Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo held a meeting with Pakistan`s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here on Saturday during a state visit to the country.

Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Bei Machmudin stated in a press release that President Joko Widodo was welcomed in a state ceremony by Abbasi upon arrival at the prime minister`s house where the meeting took place.

After the ceremony, the two leaders held a one-on-one meeting followed by a bilateral meeting, the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the fields of energy and trade, and a luncheon.

At around 12:30 p.m. local time, or 2:30 p.m. West Indonesia Time, President Widodo and First Lady Iriana along with their entourage left for Bangladesh for a state visit.

President Widodo is scheduled to meet with Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid in the evening before attending a state dinner at the presidential hall.

Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Rina Soemarno noted that the state visit of President Widodo had long been awaited.

"This is the first visit in the past 15 years, so it has long been awaited. Moreover, (this visit has been undertaken) after several visits by Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheik Hasina to Indonesia," Soemarno remarked.

The ambassador pointed out that the visit would hold significance for the two countries that have long shared sound relations.

"President`s (Joko Widodo`s) visit to Bangladesh is part of his visits to several South Asian countries to open new opportunities in the relations between the two countries. There are several potential cooperation opportunities that could be utilized by the two sides," she added.

Reported by Joko Susilo
(H-YH/INE)
EDITED BY INE/A014

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Editor: Heru Purwanto
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