TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will pay a visit to Washington D.C, the United States, on May 4-5 to strengthen the commitment to cooperation discussed earlier during recent US Vice President Mike Pence’s tour to Indonesia.

“It would be Indonesia’s first ministerial visit to the incoming US administration,” Arrmanatha told a press conference yesterday in Central Jakarta.

Foreign Minister Retno will hold a bilateral meeting with US State Secretary Rex Tillerson. “We are also arranging a meeting with US House Speaker Paul Ryan, also a courtesy call on the Vice President following an invitation from VP Pence during his Indonesia visit,” Arrmanatha said.

Foreign Ministry director for the Americas Adam Mulawarman Tugio the meeting between Indonesian delegates and Mr. Paul Ryan is aimed at establishing a bilateral connection through the parliament. “In order to establish relations with not only the executive but also the legislative branch and civil society.”

Before heading to the United States, Minister Retno will be accompanying President Joko Widodo on a state visit to the Philippines today and attending the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila on April 29-30.

Minister Retno is also slated to accompany Jokowi on a working visit to Hong Kong on May 1 before departing for Geneva to join the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) 2017 organized by the UN Security Council.

YOHANES PASKALIS