The people here are friendly and open. They want the delegates after the G20 to return to visit Belitung IslandBelitung, Babel Islands (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has praised the hospitality and enthusiasm of the Belitung community in welcoming G20 delegates.
"Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan highly commends the hospitality and enthusiasm of the community in welcoming the G20 delegates," acting governor of Bangka Belitung Islands, Ridwan Djamaluddin, said here on Thursday.
The praise for the participation and hospitality of the Belitung people was conveyed directly by the G20 delegates in Belitung Island, he added.
"Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked me directly, what are you doing so that the community participates in maintaining and making the G20 successful," Djamaluddin said.
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According to him, the people of Belitung Island are very proud to be hosting the delegates and have prepared for a long time in order to be good hosts so that the delegates from abroad are safe, comfortable, and want to linger in Belitung.
"The people here are friendly and open. They want the delegates after the G20 to return to visit Belitung Island," he said.
The hospitality shown by the Belitung people has been no less than that of Bali and Lombok residents in welcoming the delegates and tourists, he added.
"This is one of the important values and this can be seen from the enthusiasm of school children in Belitung waving flags along the road to welcome the G20 delegates," he said.
Delegates participating in the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting on September 7–9, 2022, in Belitung district, Bangka Belitung Islands province, began to arrive at H.A.S. Hanandjoeddin International Airport on Monday (September 5, 2022).
"They began to arrive yesterday, including those from Japan, while delegates from Singapore arrived today (September 6),” Belitung vice district head Isyak Meirobie informed in Tanjung Pandan on Tuesday.
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Delegates attending the meeting are expected to continue to arrive until September 7, he said.
"September 6 and 7 is the arrival schedule," he added.
Upon their arrival in Belitung, the delegates went straight to the venue of the meeting under a tight escort provided by officers from the traffic directorate of the Bangka Belitung Islands Provincial Police.
"On their way, the delegates will also receive a warm welcome from students of schools they will pass through to the venue," Meirobie said.
The G20 Development Ministerial Meeting, which is being organized under the Indonesian G20 Presidency, aims to discuss developmental issues in developing countries, least developed countries, and island countries.
The meeting will take place in the province's special economic zone for the tourism industry.
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Translator: Aprionis, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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