President Joko Widodo today, Thursday, August 30, 2018, received a state visit by the President of the Republic of Namibia, Hage Gottfried Geingob, at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java.

Arriving at around 10:05 a.m., the arrival of President Geingob and his entourage was welcomed by the troops of the archipelago, the music corps, and the horsemen from Paspampres. A number of students wearing traditional Nusantara clothing also welcomed President Geingob by raising the flag of the two countries.

Indonesia and Namibia continue to improve cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields. The increase in cooperation was discussed in the state visit of the President of the Republic of Namibia Hage Gottfried Geingob, at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

Through this visit, the governments of Indonesia and Namibia agreed to enhance cooperation in the maritime sector, especially in the effort to combat illegal fishing.

"As we have witnessed the cooperation was agreed with the signing of the MoU related to fisheries and maritime affairs," the President said in a press statement with President Geingob after the meeting, as reported by the press release of the Deputy for Press, Protocol and Media Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin.

In addition, Indonesia and Namibia also sought to improve cooperation in the infrastructure sector through the construction of 2,000 units of public housing in Namibia. The project is planned to be carried out by the Indonesian BUMN PT Wijaya Karya together with the Namibian company. (setneg)

President Joko Widodo received the visit of former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the President's office at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Thursday, August 30, 2018. 

In this meeting, the President was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono.

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the purpose of Anwar Ibrahim's visit was to stay in touch with President Jokowi. Especially considering that Anwar Ibrahim was only elected as President of the Malaysian People's Justice Party (PKR) on August 5, 2018, replacing Wan Azizah who is also his wife, as reported by a press release of the Deputy for Press, Protocol and Media Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin.

"He exchanged ideas in many ways. Mr. Anwar Ibrahim conveyed greetings from Tun (PM Mahathir Mohamad). Two days before meeting the President, he met with Tun," the Foreign Minister said.

The Foreign Minister said PM Mahathir conveyed a very good impression with the results of his visit on Friday, June 29, 2018. Prime Minister Mahathir also said a commitment to continue strengthening relations with Indonesia.

"Even Pak Anwar Ibrahim said this was a very appropriate time for Indonesia and Malaysia to improve relations," the Foreign Minister continued.

In addition, in the meeting which lasted about 30 minutes the President also entrusted Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Malaysia to Anwar Ibrahim.

"Both of them also said that it is important that we continue to work together in fighting for oil palm," said the Foreign Minister.

For information, the PKR Party was part of the coalition that won the Malaysian election last May. In the election, Mahathir Mohamad was elected as prime minister. (kemensetneg)

Indonesia won a silver medal in the men's 4 x 100-m relay at the 2018 Asian Games at Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, on Thursday evening.

Runner Lalu Muhammad Zohri and team touched the finish line with a time of 38.77 seconds for the silver. The gold medal was won by the Japanese team with a time of 38.16 seconds, while China won bronze with a time of 38.89 seconds.

From the starting line, the Japanese team’s first runner, Ryota Yamagata, led, followed by second and third runners, until the end of the race with fourth runner Aska Antonio Cambridge touching the finish line for the gold medal.

Indonesia’s first runner was Fadlin, followed by Lalu Muhammad Zohri, Eko Rimbawan and Bayu Kertanegara as the fourth runner.

Indonesia fell behind the pack with its third runner Eko Rimbawan, who went head-to-head against China's third runner Su Bingtian.

Entering the fourth runner, Indonesia’s Bayu Kertanegara was still slightly behind China's fourth runner Xu Welhsu, but 50-m before the finish line, Bayu managed to leave Xu behind to reach the finish line after Japan’s runner.

Meanwhile, in the women's 4x100-m relay, the gold medal was won by Bahrain’s Essa Iman, Odiong Odidiong, Alkhaldi Hajar and Naser Salwa with a time of 42.73 seconds, which also broke the Games’ Chinese team record of 42.83 seconds.

China won the silver medal with runners Xiojing Liang, Wei Yongli Ge Yuan Mangi and Qiqi, with a time of 43.82 seconds, while bronze was earned by Kazakzstan’s Viktoriya Zyabkina, Elina Mikhina, Golendova Svetlana and Olga Safronova with a time of 43.82 seconds. ( inasgoc ) 

Head of General and Cooperation Affairs of the Directorate General of Culture of Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, Ahmad Mahendra on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 in Jakarta said Indonesiana cultural platform which was formed some time ago would be used to encourage the regions to become organizers of independent and professional cultural festivals. By doing this, he said, it is expected that each region can hold various cultural festivals with their own ideas based on the local values ​​and culture. According to Ahmad Mahendra, currently many regions in Indonesia have realized the importance of promoting local values ​​and local culture. They are also proud and have high confidence in their values ​​and local culture. However, there are still many of them who have not been able to promote the values ​​and local culture they have. Therefore the Indonesiana cultural platform is here to help them.

"So it really needs to be encouraged, the regions need to be encouraged, then they need to be confident, so that immediately they can, Indonesia can, we can. Like that. So the function of Indonesiana is to encourage those who are confident about their area, to their locality so that their ideas emerge. We are like public relations, they never know what kind of social media they are, but after the workshop, after mentoring from public relations on how to perform public relations, they finally do it themselves," said Ahmad Mehndra.

Ahmad Mahendra further explained that the values ​​and local culture of the region have considerable potential for the progress and welfare of the community. Therefore, he encouraged all regions to seriously promote the values ​​and local culture they have and synergize with the central government through the Indonesiana cultural platform. The Indonesiana cultural platform itself has helped the government in various regions to hold four festivals from 13 festivals in 2018. The four festivals include the Foho Rai Festival in Belu, East Nusa Tenggara Province, the International Gamelan Festival in Central Java and the festival on Mount Sintuvu in Central Sulawesi. In addition there are also other cultural festivals that will be held in the near future, including the Multatuli Arts Festival in Lebak, Banten, the Blora Folklore Festival in Blora, Central Java, and the Saman Cultural Festival in Gayo Lues, Aceh, the Nusantara Weaving Festival in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, Ambonia International Bamboowind Music Festival in Ambon, to Silek Artis Festival in Padang, Padang Pariaman, Solok, Sawahlunto, Tanahdatar, Payakumbuh, and Bukit Tinggi, also South Sumatra. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)