VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo offered cooperation with the theme of diversity and tolerance to the United States. This was conveyed when he received the visit of US Secretary of State Michael Richard Pompeo on Sunday at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
In his remarks, President Joko Widodo said that Indonesia was the largest country in the Southeast Asia region as well as the country with the largest number of Muslims in the world.

Nevertheless, President Joko Widodo said, Indonesia and many other nations in the world, still face challenges in maintaining the existing diversity.

"The challenge faced by all nations today is how to maintain diversity with mutual respect for each other. And it is this theme of diversity and tolerance that I have continuously put forward so far,” said President Joko Widodo.

Meanwhile, Michael Richard Pompeo expressed American appreciation to Indonesia as a strategic partner for the United States. According to him, the United States respects the democratic values ​​of the Indonesian people. Democracy, according to Pompeo, is an invaluable treasure for Americans.

It is the first visit of the US Secretary of State Michael Richard Pompeo to Indonesia after being sworn in by President Donald Trump replacing Rex Tillerson, April 27. Pompeo's 2-day visit to Indonesia was part of a series of visits to Asia after visiting Malaysia and Singapore. During the meeting, President Joko Widodo was accompanied by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Budi Bowoleksono and several other officials. (VOI / Ndy / AHM)