President Jokowi concludes work visit in Beijing

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has left Beijing for Indonesia after completing his three-day work visit to China on May 13-15, 2017.

The presidential aircraft Indonesia-I, with the head of state aboard, took off from the Beijing Capital International Airport at 4:45 p.m. local time.

"The president and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo will continue their trip to the Mutiara SIS Aljufri Aiport in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, in the evening," Head of the Presidential Press Bureau and Information Secretariat Bey Machmudin noted in a press statement.

According to plan, Jokowi is expected to attend the opening of the 19th Congress of the Indonesian Muslims Student Movement in Palu. 

After attending the event, the president and his wife are scheduled to return to Jakarta. 

Earlier, the president had attended the Yangqi Lake International Conference Center in Beijing on Monday and highlighted intensifying "people-to-people" contacts under the "Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation" (BRF) scheme.

Apart from improving collaboration with the summits member countries, Jokowi, along with leaders and heads of international organizations from 29 countries, also discussed ways to synergize policies and strengthen connectivity.

Jokowi also stressed the importance of the roles of Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China.

On the sidelines of a luncheon before the second session, President Jokowi held discussions with Argentinean President Mauricio Maori and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

On his way back to Indonesia, the president is expected to take an around six-hour flight before arriving in Palu.

Jokowi had embarked on a working visit to Beijing since Saturday night and attended the summit of BRF. 

Investment potentials in several Asian, African, and European countries through the New Silk Road and the Maritime Belt in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, among others, were discussed during the forum.(*)

Source: ANTARA