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Jokowi delivers policy speech then departs to Palembang
President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo
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President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo.(kompas.com/Roderick Adrian Mozes) (kompas.com/Roderick Adrian Mozes)
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. (kompas.com/Roderick Adrian Mozes)
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is set to arrive back in Indonesia on Thursday following the decision to cut short his US state visit to personally lead ongoing haze countermeasures.
According to Antara news agency, Jokowi departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the US, on Tuesday at around 5.50 p.m., heading straight to Palembang in South Sumatra.
As for his slated meetings with businesses on the West Coast, setkab.go.id on Wednesday reported that Jokowi has assigned related ministers and officials to stand in, including Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara, Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Franky Sibarani and Creative Economy Agency (BEK) head Triawan Munaf.
Prior to his departure, the President delivered a policy speech at the American think tank Brookings Institution in Washington DC on Tuesday.
The forest and land fires, illegal fishing and carbon emissions were among the issues highlighted in Jokowi's speech, which he delivered in a serious yet friendly manner, including some light jokes that drew attendants' laughter as well as applause.
Jokowi also mentioned other matters including the global economy, democracy, the environment, the digital economy and the creative economy.
He stated that Indonesia had conducted the necessary steps to solve current economic issues such as infrastructure development, the ease of doing business and the economic stimulus packages that are set to be the foundation of Indonesia's economic reform.
As an indication of the country's seriousness about reforming its economy, Jokowi said that he had announced Indonesia's interest in joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
'President Obama was quite surprised to hear that,' said Jokowi as quoted by setkab.go.id.
He also addressed the South China Sea dispute, the importance of the Indian Ocean, the archipelago's interest in building maritime infrastructure as well as the strengthening of ASEAN and its cooperation with other regions.
Regarding the South China Sea, Jokowi said that Indonesia was not part of the conflict but felt the need to participate in the creation of peace and stability in the region.
'We want ASEAN countries and China to start discussing on the code of conduct. Indonesia wants to play an active role in the matter,' said Jokowi as reported by setkab.go.id.
He also said that Indonesia is blessed by a strong presence of Islam and democracy.
"Islam in Indonesia is a moderate and highly tolerant one. Thus, Indonesia offers a model of Islam that isn't only compatible with democracy, but also with modernity,' said Jokowi as quoted by Antara news agency. (kes)
