President Widodo To Meet President Obama During United States Visit

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo will visit the United States on October 25-28 following an invitation from the country's President Barack Obama, according to a press statement received here on Tuesday.

President Widodo's visit, his first to the United States as Indonesia's head of state, will be a historic opportunity to highlight the importance of Indonesia-US cooperation on global affairs and the friendship between the two nations and leaders.  

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi and United States Secretary of State John Kerry announced the visit on Monday (Sept. 21) following bilateral consultations in Washington D.C., in which they discussed areas of future partnership and issues of common concern, such as climate change, countering violent extremism, and ASEAN issues.    

Minister Marsudi will deliver a major policy speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars today (Tuesday), September 22, at 11 a.m. local time.

President Widodo's visit will include a bilateral meeting with President Obama at the White House on October 26, and meetings with senior figures of the United States Government, the Congress, and business leaders in Washington, D.C., on October 26-27.

The following day, President Widodo will visit San Francisco for meetings with business communities and university leaders.

President Widodo and President Obama will discuss matters of mutual interest and global challenges, including promoting religious tolerance and moderate Islam while countering radicalism and violent extremism.

The two leaders will also explore ways to make Indonesia a destination of choice for United States' investment.

During the visit, President Widodo plans to work with businesses in the United States, which can play a strong role in ensuring continued growth of Indonesia's robust economy.  

Other key issues to be discussed will include enhancing cooperation in areas of defense and security, maritime strategy, and clean energy.

As the world's third-largest democracy and one of the most ethnically diverse nations with the largest Muslim population, Indonesia has been a strong voice and model for tolerance, moderation, and inclusiveness in the region and the world.

President Widodo, who rose from humble beginnings as the son of a carpenter, is known for directly engaging with Indonesians of all income levels and backgrounds, supporting small businesses, and building upon his country's tradition of religious pluralism.

Widodo's visit aims to further strengthen the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, established in 2010, that has fostered momentum and regular high-level engagements between the two countries.

In November 2010, President Obama visited Indonesia, where he spent four years of his childhood and toured the country's largest mosque.

He spoke of "the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia's Constitution, and that it remains one of this country's defining and inspiring characteristics."

Formal diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the United States were established in December 1949.  
As the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, President Sukarno made his first state visit to the United States in 1956, while President Richard M. Nixon made a similar visit to Indonesia, as the first visit by a president of the United States in 1969. (WDY)