President Jokowi Welcomes the Official Visit of Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga at Bogor Palace

Detiktoday.com – President Joko Widodo accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo officially welcomed the visit of Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Yoshihide Suga and Mrs. Mariko Suga at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. The visit to Vietnam and Indonesia this week is a trip PM Yoshihide Suga’s first overseas office since taking office on September 16, 2020.

PM Yoshihide Suga’s visit this time is also the first visit of a head of government to Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic. For this reason, a number of adjustments were made in the state welcoming ceremony, for example the limited number of honor troops and the more tenuous distances.

Arriving at Bogor Palace at around 16.00 WIB, PM Yoshihide Suga’s entourage was welcomed by President Jokowi and Mrs. Iriana. The welcoming procession was then continued with an official welcoming ceremony on the Palace terrace due to the rainy situation. The national anthem of the two countries was played to the sound of the cannon 19 times.

After the ceremony, the two leaders introduced their respective delegations. President Jokowi and Mrs. Iriana then invited PM Yoshihide Suga and Mrs. Mariko Suga to enter the Lotus Room at the Bogor Presidential Palace to sign the state guest book and take a group photo, before having a conversation on the veranda.

President Joko Widodo and PM Yoshihide Suga then headed to the office for a tête-à-tête meeting. Meanwhile, Mrs. Iriana and Mrs. Mariko Suga conducted a series of accompanying events that had been prepared on the veranda of the Palace.

The two leaders then headed to the Palace Oval Room to hold a bilateral meeting with delegates from the two countries. During the meeting, President Jokowi warmly welcomed PM Yoshihide Suga’s visit.

“Welcome to Indonesia and it is an honor for me and all Indonesian people to receive Your Excellency’s visit,” said President Jokowi.

“This visit is a symbol of a strong commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation between Indonesia and Japan as an implementation of the strategic partnership between the two countries,” he added.

After the bilateral meeting, the two leaders will deliver a joint press statement at the Lotus Room. In the evening, President Joko Widodo will hold a state dinner for PM Yoshihide Suga at the Garuda Room.

Also accompanying the President and First Lady in the state welcoming ceremony included Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister for State Secretary Pratikno, Minister for State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, and Ad Interim Business Authority of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Tri Purnajaya.