Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) met with the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, to discuss several bilateral cooperation areas and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

According to a written statement received from the Presidential Secretariat's press bureau on Tuesday, the agenda was part of President Widodo's schedule on the third day of his state visit to Africa.

The meeting between the two presidents started with a state welcoming ceremony at the Dar Es Salaam State House on Tuesday morning local time.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi; Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung; Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif; and Indonesian Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania Tri Yogo Jatmiko accompanied President Widodo to Tanzania.

In the afternoon, President Widodo and his entourage were scheduled to continue their agenda in Africa with a visit to Maputo, Republic of Mozambique.

His state visit to the eastern African country marked the first time an Indonesian president has visited Tanzania in 30 years after President Suharto's trip in 1991.

This is also Widodo's first visit to Africa in his two presidential terms.

After Kenya and Tanzania, the President is scheduled to visit Mozambique, the first African country to have inked a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Indonesia.

He will conclude his state visit by visiting South Africa to fulfill an invitation to attend the 2023 BRICS Summit.

The head of state said that Indonesia and Africa have a long historical relationship because Indonesia was the initiator and host of the 1955 Asian-African Conference (KAA). In addition, Indonesia played an important role in establishing the Non-Aligned Movement.

"I will bring the spirit of the Asian-African Conference to Africa by strengthening solidarity and cooperation among the Global South countries," he said.

Kenya and Tanzania have opened their embassies in Jakarta last year as a commitment to continue to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia, he added.


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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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