We, of course, need security and political stability, as well as preparedness for enabling us to cope with the impact of the global economic slowdownJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo met with Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Chief Patron Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace here on Friday, during which they shared a common perspective on Indonesia's dire need for security and political stability.
These two figures, who both waged fierce campaigns in this year's presidential elections, highlighted the necessity of security and political stability for the sake of Indonesia's ongoing economic growth and development, amid a trend of global economic slowdown.
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"We, of course, need security and political stability, as well as preparedness for enabling us to cope with the impact of the global economic slowdown," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) told journalists, shortly after meeting with Prabowo.
During the one-hour meeting taking place in the Merdeka Palace's Jepara Room, Jokowi said he and the Gerindra leader also discussed the capital city relocation issue.
Jokowi said he explained the the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla administration's reasons for relocating Indonesia's capital city from Jakarta to the areas of Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara Districts in East Kalimantan to Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo said he supports the capital city relocation, noting the government's thorough and comprehensive studies on the relocation.
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Jokowi's meeting with Prabowo Subianto took place six days prior to the convening of Gerindra's national meeting in Hambalang, West Java Province, scheduled for Oct 15-17, 2019.
Prabowo Subianto's Spokesman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said earlier that Gerindra's decision on whether it intends to join the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin administration or stay out will be announced on Oct 17.
"Mr. Prabowo's official stance on becoming the government's critical partner or internal partner will be decided during Gerindra's national meeting from October 15 to 17," Simanjuntak said on Wednesday.
Prabowo, who lost the recent presidential elections, has called upon Gerindra's executives across Indonesia to hold the national meeting in Hambalang, West Java Province, on October 15 and 17, for talks on the party's official stance, Simanjuntak said.
He will listen to perspectives and opinions of Gerindra's executives at the meeting and adopt their views in the party's final decision, Simanjuntak said.
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Jokowi and Prabowo appeared set to walk down the path of reconciliation on July 13, 2019, when they met at the MRT Station of Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta, and continued their conversation while boarding Jakarta's new MRT.
They also had lunch at a restaurant in a shopping mall in Senayan area. Following his meeting with Jokowi, Prabowo visited Megawati Soekarnoputri at her residence on July 24.
The political maneuvers made by the two camps are in line with their common endeavor to promote reconciliation among Indonesians, who have seen divisions in society caused by their tough rivalry in the recent elections.
(INE)
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Translator: Bayu P, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
