HCMC – Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Hanoi this afternoon, January 11, starting a three-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.
Widodo is accompanied by several high-ranking Indonesian officials, including Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Erick Thohir, Minister of State Owned Enterprises; Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of Industry; Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries; Moeldoko, Chief of Staff of Presidency; Sulistiyanto Soeherman, member of the Presidential Advisory Council; and Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi.
Greeting the Indonesian President at the airport were Le Khanh Hai, head of the Presidential Office of Vietnam, Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the Hanoi City People’s Committee; Ha Kim Ngoc, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs; and Ta Van Thong, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia.
This is President Widodo’s second State visit to Vietnam, with the first being in September 2018. The ongoing visit is expected to strengthen the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Indonesia.
In addition to his talks with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, President Widodo is scheduled to have separate meetings with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.
Vietnam is Indonesia’s sole strategic partner in the ASEAN bloc.
Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, said that the visit underscores Vietnam’s consistent commitment to fostering relations with ASEAN neighbors, including Indonesia.
The discussions between the two countries will cover areas such as economic, trade, investment, security, defense, and agriculture cooperation.
The agenda will also address regional and international matters of mutual concern. Within ASEAN, Indonesia is Vietnam’s third-largest trade partner, while Vietnam holds the fourth position for Indonesia.
