TEMPO.CO, Washington DC - President Joko Widodo is scheduled to visit the United States on October 26, according to a meeting between Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday, September 21.
“I want to ensure to Kerry that President Jokowi’s visit to the US will give benefit to the welfare of the people,” said the Foreign Affairs Ministry in an official statement on Tuesday.
In President Jokowi’s visit, President Obama plans to welcome him at in the Oval Room. The last meeting in the Oval Room between two Heads of States was ten years ago when Indonesia was led by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. As the US government’s special guest, Jokowi will stay at Blair House during his visit.
“The meeting in Oval Office and President Jokowi’s staying at Blair House are symbol of close relationships between both countries,” said Retno.
President Jokowi’s visit is conducted concomitant with five years of comprehensive partnership between Indonesia and the US which was launched in 2010. “During President Jokowi’s visit, both Heads of States plan to launch a more strategic partnership between Indonesia and the US,” said Retno.
In the meeting, both foreign ministers will also discuss cooperation to promote tolerance and moderation in addressing challenges of global radicalism. Retno specifically raised the importance of utilizing Indonesian Mosque in Washington, D.C as a center to spread pluralism.
Kerry underlined that Indonesia is a large country regarding tolerance and pluralism. As the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, Indonesia has an important role in tackling radicalism and extremism.
The US is Indonesia’s fourth most important trading partner with total trade in 2014 reaching US$27.7 billion. In investment, the US is placed sixth in Indonesia with investment of US$1.3 billion, while US tourist visits to Indonesia reached 234,117 in 2014.
L NATALIA SANTI
