Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received South African President Jacob Gedleyehlekisa Zuma, who is on a state visit, at the Merdeka Palace here on Wednesday.

The South African president and his entourage arrived at the Merdeka Palace at 03.00 p.m. local time.

Jokowi and First Lady Iriana greeted Zuma and his wife Bongi Ngema Zuma in front of the stairs on the right side of the Merdeka Palace.

The South African president was immediately ushered to the official welcoming ceremony and inspected a guard-of-honor on the yard of the Merdeka Palace.

After the welcoming ceremony, the two leaders went straight to the rear veranda of the palace to hold talks. Later, they entered the central room of the palace to co-chair a bilateral meeting between the ministers of the two countries.

While receiving Zuma, Jokowi was accompanied by several ministers, including Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, National Development Planning Minister/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

In Indonesia, Zuma also attended the first-ever Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Summit held in Jakarta on Tuesday. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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