Jokowi and Li hold bilateral talks

BOGOR: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo welcomed Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang at the Bogor Palace, a visit that marks the fifth year of Indonesia and China’s strategic comprehensive partnership.

Following a lavish welcome ceremony, Jokowi and Li planted a camphor tree as a symbol of good bilateral ties, followed by a tete-a-tete on the Palace veranda.

The two leaders then proceeded with bilateral talks, which were expected to focus on the countries’ economic partnership, including trade and investment.

In a press briefing on Friday, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Jokowi aimed to narrow the country’s trade deficit with China through increasing Indonesian exports to China and other measures.

China ranks as the third-largest foreign investor in Indonesia with US$3.36bil (RM13.2bil) in 2017, a significant increase from US$2.66bil (RM10.5bil) in 2016. Between 2015 and 2017, Indonesia reduced its trade deficit with China to 11.63%.

Retno opened the possibility that Jokowi and Li would discuss several regional issues, including the Korean peace process and maintaining peace in the South China Sea.

Yesterday marked Li’s first visit to Indonesia as prime minister.

He previously visited the country in 2008, when he was deputy prime minister. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

All smiles: Li and Jokowi sharing a light moment as they hold mascots of the 2018 Asian Games during their meeting at the presidential palace in Bogor. — AFP