Jakarta (Antara) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) left for Melbourne, Australia on Monday morning to attend the March 4-6 ASEAN-Australia Summit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the partnership between the regional association and the country.
„Today, I along with a limited delegation will travel to Melbourne, Australia to attend the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit,” he said during a press conference before departure at Jakarta's Halim Pertanakusuma Airport.
President Jokowi noted that the special summit will bring together representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia to identify possible ways to enhance their comprehensive strategic partnership that will pave the way for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
„I will make the most of this opportunity to promote economic integration, energy transition and digital transformation, while stressing the importance of cooperation and continued respect for international law, including on Palestinian issues,” he noted.
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During his visit to Australia, the Head of State said that he will also hold bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of Australia, New Zealand and Cambodia.
„I and the entourage are scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 6,” he added.
The President took off from Halim Pertanakusuma Airport at 10am local time.
Vice President Maruf Amin, State Secretary Pratigno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono and Indonesian National Armed Forces (DNI) Commander General Agus Subianto accompanied President Jokowi during the press conference.
ASEAN and Australia first established dialogue in 1974 and elevated their ties to a strategic partnership in 2014, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of their ties.
Both parties agreed to further intensify their relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021.
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