President Joko Widodo Hosts State Visit from Governor General of Australia
West Java, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo welcomed the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley, on Friday, for a state visit at the Bogor State Palace, located in Bogor City, West Java.
Hurley and his delegation arrived at the palace at approximately 9 a.m. local time, where they were greeted by cavalry troops and the musical corps of the Presidential Security Guard (Paspampres).
Upon arrival, President Widodo greeted the Australian delegates and invited them to listen to the national anthems of Indonesia and Australia, played in harmony with 21 cannon blasts.
Following the anthems, the president and the governor general conducted a joint inspection of the guards of honor at the palace, introducing their respective delegations thereafter. The Indonesian delegation included Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and State Secretary Minister Pratikno.
Subsequently, President Widodo invited Governor General Hurley to participate in a photo session and to sign the state guest book at the palace’s Teratai Room. The two leaders then engaged in a brief conversation on the palace’s veranda before partaking in a tree-planting session.
President Widodo further guided Governor General Hurley on a tour of the nearby Bogor Botanical Garden, during which the Indonesian head of state assumed the driving seat aboard a golf car.
In a statement from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, it was revealed that Governor General Hurley and his spouse, Linda Hurley, are undertaking an official visit to Indonesia from May 14th to May 18th.
This visit commemorates 75 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia, with Governor General Hurley expressing the significance of Indonesia as one of Australia’s most important strategic partners. He emphasized the deep-rooted friendship and partnership between the two nations and pledged to celebrate the bilateral diplomatic relations and acknowledge the efforts of both parties in maintaining harmonious relations.
