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Turnbull lauds Jokowi's leadership, calls him 'role model'
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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left) and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (center) meet with participants of the Indonesia-Australia Interfaith Youth Dialogue in Sidney on Saturday. (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
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ustralian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has praised President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for his success in developing a multicultural society in Indonesia, calling him one of the most important role models in the world.
"Standing next to me is one of the most important leaders, role models in the world today," he said at the International Convention Center in Sydney while receiving 33 participants of the Indonesia-Australia Youth Interfaith Dialogue.
The event was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Australian Special Summit in Sydney on Saturday.
Turnbull said that under Jokowi's leadership, Indonesia had shown that Islam and democracy could work together.
"The President embodies the leadership of Indonesia [...] Indonesia spurs democracy, Islam and moderation," he said.
The prime minister also described Australia as a multicultural society that was united by political values: freedom, democracy and mutual respect.
Jokowi has struggled to stem the tide of intolerance that has pervaded the country in recent years.
Indonesia was in the spotlight last year amid a highly sectarian gubernatorial election in Jakarta.
One of the election contenders, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, was convicted of blasphemy following a series of rallies demanding his prosecution. (ahw)
