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Jokowi to take Duterte on 'blusukan' to Tanah Abang
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will take Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on one of his famous blusukan (impromptu visits) to Southeast Asia's largest textile market before officially welcoming him to the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday afternoon
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A worker stands in front of photos of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte across from the State Palace on Sept. 9. Jokowi will take Duterte to Indonesia's famous textile market Tanah Abang before officially welcoming him at the State Palace on Friday afternoon. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will take Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on one of his famous blusukan (impromptu visits) to Southeast Asia's largest textile market before officially welcoming him to the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday afternoon.
Jokowi and newly inaugurated president Duterte are scheduled to visit the famous Tanah Abang textile market in Central Jakarta at 2 p.m., State Secretary Pramono Anung said on Friday. It was a special diplomatic move by Jokowi, he said, noting that not all visiting state or government leaders had the opportunity to join the President on blusukan.
"One of the strengths and main focuses of President Jokowi is to see public issues directly from the field. That way he wants to give an example to world leaders of how to manage social issues directly from the source because we can't only manage issues from behind a desk," he said.
Duterte will be the second leader that Jokowi has taken on a diplomatic blusukan, after Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull also accompanied the President to Tanah Abang in November last year.
After visiting Tanah Abang, Jokowi will welcome Duterte at 4 p.m. to the State Palace, where the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting. One issue that could be discussed by the two counterparts is the number of Indonesians posing as Filipino pilgrims in the hope of going on the haj via Manila.
Prior to meeting Jokowi, Duterte is scheduled to meet with Philippine communities in Jakarta and will make an honorary visit to the Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata, South Jakarta, Pramono added. (rin)
