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Australia hails Indonesia's democratic success
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has praised Indonesiaâs peaceful transition to a new administration, highlighting the countryâs successful democratization
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ustralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has praised Indonesia's peaceful transition to a new administration, highlighting the country's successful democratization.
Abbott arrived in Jakarta on Sunday to attend the inauguration ceremony of president-elect Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) building on Monday.
Abbott is among the heads of state slated to attend the inauguration despite a recent revelation that Jokowi was considering skipping the Australia-hosted G20 Summit three weeks later.
Abbott said that the inauguration was an important occasion for Indonesia.
'It has the world's largest Muslim population, the world's third-largest democracy and, along with India, it's the emerging democratic superpower of Asia,' Abbott said in a statement posted at the prime minister's office on Sunday.
Other regional leaders who have confirmed their attendance at the ceremony are Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
US President Barack Obama has sent US Secretary of State John Kerry to lead the US delegation at the inauguration. Kerry is scheduled to arrive at Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta on Monday morning.
The White House announced that members of the US presidential delegation to the inauguration include US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel R. Russel, director of the Peace Corps Carolyn Hessler-Radelet, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and former US ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education for International and Foreign Language Education Mohamed Abdel-Kader
While in Jakarta, Kerry will also hold several bilateral meetings with his foreign counterparts before leaving for Berlin on Oct. 21 to meet with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to discuss regional and international issues.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dispatched former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda as ambassador on a special mission to the inauguration ceremony, underlining Japan's willingness to continuously emphasize its relationship with the new government.
'In this context, Indonesia is becoming an increasingly important strategic partner for Japan, which shares fundamental values and many common interests,' said a Japanese foreign ministry release sent to The Jakarta Post.
Japan has also praised Indonesia's continuous path in establishing democracy, political stability and steady economic development.
'Indonesia's presence is increasing in the international community, including with the attainment of G20 membership.'
Other world leaders scheduled to attend the ceremony are Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Papua New Guinea Governor-General Michael Ogio, Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, and South Korean Prime Minister Jung Hong-won.
Britain, China, Vietnam, The Netherlands, Russia, New Zealand have also sent ministers or special envoys to the ceremony.
