Therefore, the Indonesian and Indian working teams should take the next step forward."New Delhi (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, met the Indonesian community living in India during his state visit to that country.
The President and the First Lady met with the Indonesian citizens living in New Delhi at the Indonesian Embassy here.
Jokowi and his wife arrived at the Embassy at 12.20 p.m. local time. He held a cordial gathering with some 200 Indonesian citizens.
On the occasion, the President also had lunch with them.
Indonesian Ambassador to India Rizali Indrakesuma expressed thanks for the visit of the president to India, which he had anticipated for some two years since Jokowi assumed the presidential post.
The ambassador expressed hope that the visit of the president to India would turn out results that could be quickly implemented, bring benefits to the relations between both nations.
"The Indonesian citizens present here are citizens who have married and lived in India. There are also experts who work in a number of institutions and students whose number is small, at nearly 200," the ambassador stated.
He indicated that the number of Indonesian citizens in India is still small, not even reaching 500 people. But he stressed that amid the two billion Indian people, the Indonesian citizens wanted to contribute to the efforts of increasing cooperation between the two countries.
President Jokowi, when addressing the Indonesian audience, spoke of infrastructure projects the government is undertaking in Indonesia.
He also disclosed the results of his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamin Ansari.
"We discussed many things. In essence, India wanted the long historic relations of the two countries to be continued at a closer level. There are many opportunities that we can take advantage of. So far, we have handled only two main products: palm oil and coal," Jokowi remarked.
He told the Indonesian community that Indonesian products have a great opportunity to enter India.
"Therefore, the Indonesian and Indian working teams should take the next step forward," he added.
After the cordial meeting with the Indonesian community, the president headed to Palam Airport, New Delhi, in the afternoon to fly to Tehran, Iran, using the Indonesia-I presidential plane.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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