Widodo sat with hundreds of students on the carpet in the courtyard of the palace.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo invited hundreds of students from various schools in Jakarta to celebrate National Book Day at the Merdeka Palace, Wednesday.
The Love Reading event was held at the central courtyard of Merdeka Palace, where students celebrated the National Book Day with the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
On the occasion, Widodo interacted with hundreds of students and told them stories.
"Who has heard the fairy tale of Lutung Kasarung or the lost monkey? This story comes from West Java," he said.
During the event, the children got a chance to interact with the president at close quarters while he told them stories.
Widodo was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, and Chief of Presidential Staff Teten Masduki.
The event was hosted by Najwa Shihab, a presenter at a television channel. Activities at the event included magic show and storytelling sessions.
Widodo sat with hundreds of students on the carpet in the courtyard of the palace.
As the atmosphere got intimate, the president would slip in an occasional joke during storytelling.
"If you want to achieve your ambitions, you must work hard, study diligently and help your friends," he told the students.
Afterwards, the president posed questions to the students and distributed gifts among them in the form of bicycles.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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