Sydney (ANTARA News) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has invited President Joko Widodo to a private dinner before the Indonesian head of state attends the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in the country on Saturday.

"God willing, the President will arrive this evening with his delegation and there will be a private agenda with the prime minister which is a dinner at the residence of the prime minister," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said here on Friday.

President Joko Widodo flanked by First Lady Iriana left for Australia from Jakarta`s Halim Perdanakusuma airbase aboard presidential plane Indonesia 1 at 7:15 a.m. local time

"The next day sideline programs of the summit begins and the President will attend a Indonesia-Australia student program and a short meeting with the prime minister followed by an Indonesia -Australia bilateral meeting and remarks by the President and the Australian prime minister at CEO Forum. Only the Indonesian President and the Australian Prime Minister who will speak in the event," she said.

After that the Australian Prime minister will accept leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) one by one and meet with New Colombo Plan scholarship recipients.

"After a meeting with ASEAN leaders for about 45 minutes there will be discussion on ASEAN counter-terrorism and Indonesia has sent strong delegation including officials from the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) followed by a welcome dinner for ASEAN-Australia Summit," she said.

The summit plans to discuss two priority sectors which are economy and defense.

With regard to economy, discussion will focus on trade and investment while on defense it will be focused on maritime security, human trafficking, cross-border crimes, cyber crimes and counter-terrorism.

President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana were flanked by state secretary Pratikno and head of Capital Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong.

Besides President Joko Widodo the summit will also be attended by Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, Singapore`s prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-ocha, Myanmar`s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam`s prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Laotian prime minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian prime minister Hunsen.

The summit at the International Convention Center will also be attended by ministers, CEOs, small and medium businessmen from Australia and ASEAN member countries.

Reported by Desca Lidya Natalia
(H-YH)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/F001)

Reporter: SYSTEM
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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