Jokowi Departs For Beijing To Attend Belt And Road Forum

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodi (Jokowi) departed for Beijing here on Saturday to attend the Belt and Road Forum to boost investment for the development of infrastructure.

"Indonesia expects to seize several opportunities at the forum as its 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) program will be initiated in cooperation by 65 countries, with a population of 4.4 billion and 40 percent of the world's gross domestic product," Head of the Press, Media, and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin noted in a press statement received by Antara.

The forum, also known as the Silk Road Summit, will be held on May 14-15, and 29 heads of state and government are expected to attend it.

He said President Jokowi will focus on the nation's interests in the international cooperation with Asian and African countries, especially for accelerating Indonesia's current infrastructure and connectivity development efforts.

At the meeting, President Jokowi is scheduled to deliver a speech in two sessions covering the synergy policy for closer cooperation and on connectivity cooperation.

President Jokowi will also utilize the opportunity to meet several heads of state, including China's President Xi Jinping, the prime ministers of Fiji and Poland, the Swiss president, IMF managing director, and Japan's Liberal Democratic Party secretary general, to increase bilateral relations and international cooperation.

"Other agendas include visiting the Niujie Mosque in Beijing, which is the communication center for Muslims in Beijing reaching 250 thousand in total. At the biggest and oldest mosque in Beijing, the president will also meet the local Muslim clerics and leaders," Machmudin noted.

The mosque, which is the symbol of Islam's entry into China, was built in 966 during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125).

Jokowi will be the second Indonesian president to visit the mosque after President Abdurrahman Wahid in 2000.

He expressed hope that the visit would offer real benefits to the people of Indonesia and the countries attending the forum.

Several state officials accompanying President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana during the flight include State Secretary Pratikno and Head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has earlier visited Beijing to hold ministerial meetings ahead of the summit. (WDY)