Manila (ANTARA News) - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo received a warm welcome at a state ceremony held at the Malacanang Palace during his state visit to the Philippines on Monday.

President Jokowi accompanied by First Lady Iriana and his entourage arrived at the palace at around 4 p.m. local time and were received by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and his wife.

President Jokowis entourage comprised Chief Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Education Minister Anis Baswedan, Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri, Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel, Head of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) Nusron Wahid, Governor of the National Defense Institute Budi Susilo S., and Chief of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency Anang Iskandar.

President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana arrived in Manila on Sunday.

He arrived at the Col. Jesus Villamor Airport at around 5 p.m. local time after a two-hour flight from Brunei Darussalam International Airport.

He arrived in the Philippines after visiting Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

Following the ceremony, the two leaders are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting and sign several cooperation agreements and issue a joint statement.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi revealed that the four cooperation agreements that have been agreed upon encompass education, narcotics eradication, migrant workers, and a higher learning institute for the defense forces.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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