VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a state visit from Emperor of Japan Hironomiya Naruhito and Empress Masako Owada at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Monday.

Emperor Naruhito and the Japanese delegation arrived at the Bogor Palace at around 10 a.m. local time and were welcomed by the Nusantara troops and cavalry as well as the music corps of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres).

President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana welcomed Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. The welcome ceremony was marked by the playing of national anthems of the two countries and firing of 21 cannons.

After the cannons were fired, the two leaders inspected the army of honor.

Jokowi and Naruhito then introduced the delegations of each country.

Members of the Indonesian delegation comprised Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi, and the Foreign Ministry's Director General of Asia-Pacific and African Affairs Abdul Kadir Jailani.

After introducing each other's delegations, Jokowi invited Naruhito and Masako to take pictures together and sign the state guest book at the Teratai (Lotus) Room.

Jokowi and Naruhito then headed to the veranda for brief talks before planting an agarwood tree together. Jokowi also showed a super red arowana fish that was handed over to Naruhito.

The agenda continued with a visit to Griya Anggrek in the palace to see the collection of orchids and then closed with a luncheon.

Emperor Naruhito's visit this time to Indonesia was his first since having assumed the throne on May 1, 2019.

Naruhito and Masako, on a five-day visit to Indonesia, arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Banten, on Saturday (June 17).

Press Secretary to Japan's Emperor, Kojiro Shiojiri, said Naruhito was invited by Jokowi, who had visited Japan in July 2022. Shiojiri said Emperor Naruhito was eager to see the development of relations between Indonesia and Japan.

In addition, the emperor's visit this year holds significance on account of 65 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan and also marking 50 years of relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan. (Antaranews)