President Moon Jae-in (left) holds a press conference with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, following the Korea-Indonesia summit at the Bogor Palace in West Java on Nov. 9, 2017. The two heads of state agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a ‘special strategic partnership’ that day. (Korea.net DB)
By Lee Hana
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will make a state visit to Korea from Sept. 9 to 11 to meet with President Moon Jae-in.
On Sept. 3, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom announced in a written briefing that, “President Widodo’s trip will reciprocate President Moon’s state visit to Indonesia last year,” and that, “The two leaders will hold a summit on Sept. 10 followed by a state dinner hosted by President Moon.”
Indonesia is one of the key countries in President Moon’s New Southern Policy, which seeks to improve Korea’s diplomatic and economic relations with the 10 ASEAN members. Last November, President Moon made a state visit to Indonesia, and following the Korea-Indonesia summit agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a “special strategic partnership.”
“During next week’s summit, the two leaders will discuss ways to strengthen their cooperation as special strategic partners. They will outline measures to increase cooperation on trade and commerce, infrastructure, agriculture, welfare, the defense industries, economic development, and cultural exchanges,” said the spokesperson.
President Widodo’s visit will make Indonesia the first ASEAN nation to have reciprocated state visits with Korea since President Moon took office .
hlee10@korea.kr
