President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has asked Kazakhstan to support Indonesia’s bid to secure a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2019-2020 period.

The statement was conveyed by the President during his meeting with a delegation from Kazakhstan's senate, led by chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who visited the State Palace on Tuesday.

Tokayev met President Jokowi to convey an official invitation from Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev to participate in the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana on Oct. 10.

Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Body chief Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, who accompanied the President at the meeting, said Jokowi welcomed the invitation to attend the event, during which he is expected to deliver a speech as the leader of the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

“Pak Jokowi also requested Kazakhstan’s support for Indonesia's candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UNSC,” Nurhayati told journalists.

She further said Jokowi asserted that Indonesia and Kazakhstan, as Muslim-majority countries, should continue to promote peaceful Islam and improve bilateral cooperation, including in efforts to push for the independence of Palestine.

During the meeting, Tokayev expressed the hope that during the congress in Astana next October, Jokowi could make an official state visit, especially because this year marked the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“We regard Indonesia as one of our major partners in Asia [...] We have a lot of opportunities to boost cooperation between the two countries, both in the economic and political fields,” Tokayev said. (ebf)