President Jokowi to Attend APEC, ASEAN, G20 Summits

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has confirmed he will attend the APEC, ASEAN and G20 Summits, which will be held from November 10 to 16, 2014. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Michael Tene said during a press conference here on Wednesday that President Jokowi would attend the Summits of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Beijing, China, on November 10-11, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on November 12-13, and the G20 in Brisbane, Australia, on November 15-16. "Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi will accompany President Jokowi to the summits," stated Michael. Director of Asia, Pacific and Africa Inter-Regional Cooperation, MOFA, Arto Suryodipuro remarked that at the APEC summit, President Jokowi would deliver a speech on Indonesia's economic vision for the next five years. "Mr. President (Jokowi) will highlight the importance of economic integration and connectivity, which is in line with the APEC's theme in Beijing," he noted. After the APEC Summit, President Jokowi will depart for Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, to attend the 25th ASEAN Summit. "President Jokowi will attend nine meetings during the ASEAN Summit," said the MOFA's Director General of ASEAN, I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja. On November 12-13, President Jokowi will also attend an ASEAN meeting with partner countries and organizations, including India, Japan, the United Nations, Australia, East Asian countries, the US, China, and the ASEAN Plus Three Countries (Japan, China, South Korea). Wesaka Puja pointed out that maritime and ASEAN development post-2015 would be the main issues to be discussed during the summit. "The issues are related to the Myanmar chairmanship that focuses on the ASEAN unity and a prosperous community," he added. The third summit that President Jokowi will attend is G20 in Brisbane, Australia, where he will deliver a speech on bureaucracy and economic reforms in Solo, Central Java, and Jakarta Capital Region. "President Jokowi has been specially asked to talk about his experiences in bureaucracy and economic reforms when he was the Mayor of Solo and Governor of Jakarta," revealed the MOFA's Director of Economy and Environment Development Toferry Soetikno. The APEC, ASEAN and G20 Summits, from November 10 to 16, 2014, will be Jokowi's first attendance at international forums after his inauguration as the President on October 20.(*)