MANILA, Philippines — Indonesian President Joko Widodo will be arriving in the country Friday afternoon for a state visit and participate in the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leader’s Summit.
Widodo is the second head of state to come for a state visit following Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who arrived in Manila Wednesday evening and met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on Thursday.
Duterte and Widodo are expected to continue discussions on security concerns in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas, the war on drugs, maritime cooperation, the enhancement of economic ties and other topics they had earlier discussed when Duterte paid Indonesia a state visit in September, as well as tackle new areas of cooperation.
The two are also expected to witness the signing of several agreements, including a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation that aims to strengthen the development of both countries’ agricultural sectors through cooperation on agricultural research, mutual consultation and assistance; and a joint declaration on the establishment of sea connectivity between Davao and General Santos, and Indonesia’s Bitung.
Duterte will host a state banquet in Malacanang Palace for Widodo and his wife Iriana.
On Sunday, the two leaders will attend the formal launch of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung roll-on/roll-off sea linkage route.
