President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a state visit of President of the Federated States of Micronesia Peter M. Christian at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Wednesday (18/07). In this meeting, the Head of State offers N219 Nurtanio aircraft made in Indonesia. According to Jokowi, increasing connectivity is important because Indonesia and Federated States of Micronesia are both archipelagic countries. In addition, according to Jokowi, President Christian plans to directly visit PT Dirgantara Indonesia aircraft manufacturer in Bandung, West Java, Thursday. Both countries also agreed to improve economic cooperation. One of them is by inviting entrepreneurs from Federated States of Micronesia to attend the Trade Expo Indonesia 2018.

"We agree to strengthen cooperation in various forums in the south pacific, among others through cooperation in the Pacific Island forum. In the bilateral meeting, we discussed various efforts to improve bilateral cooperation. Firstly, as archipelagic countries, we agree to increase cooperation in the maritime field and increase inter-island connectivity. Indonesia also offers N219 aircraft produced by PT Dirgantara Indonesia to be used as inter-island transport aircraft. President Christian on Thursday will visit the manufacturer in Bandung. Secondly, in the economic field, we agree to increase the interaction of entrepreneurs of both countries. In this connection I invite businessmen of Federated States of Micronesia to participate in Indonesian Trade Expo 2018, said President Joko Widodo.

Meanwhile, President of the Federated States of Micronesia Peter M. Christian welcomed various cooperation offers from Indonesia. Christian said he wanted to be more useful to get closer relations between the two developing countries.

"While we talked about the economic development and technical assistant, unfortunately the Federated State of Micronesia, unlike Indonesia, has very limited resources, and limited land, limited number of people to develop the economic for the enjoyment of a better economic and social development. We are in this sense grateful to Indonesian government for offering technical assistance to Micronesia, you know, effort to develop our country, said Peter M. Christian.

The relationship between the two countries was also enhanced through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding or MoU on visa free between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Retno LP Marsudi and the Representative of Foreign Ministry of the Federated States of Micronesia Lorin Robert. The Federated States of Micronesia is an archipelagic country covering the states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae, which are scattered in the Western Pacific Ocean. The country with 607 islands is located to the northeast of Papua Island, south of Guam and Mariana Islands, west of Nauru and Marshall Islands, and east of the Philippines. (KBRN/RINI/AHM)

The Indonesian karate national team won five medals at the Asian Karate Championships held on July 13-15, 2018, in Amman, the capital of Jordan, as noted in a written statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

A total of 12 athletes of the team participated in the 15th Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Senior Championship in Amman.

Some 300 karetakas or karate players from 29 countries participated in the championship, with several "kumite" (tarung) and word (jurus) matches for individuals and teams.

Indonesian national team's Cok Istri Agung Sanistya Rani managed to win a silver medal in the women`s tarung under 55-kilogram weight category.

Four bronze medals were won respectively in the women`s individual match by Nawar Kautsar Mastura, women`s individual under-50 kilogram category match by Intan Nurjanah, women`s individual under-68 kilogram fight by Ceyco Georgia`s Zefanya Hutagalung, and men`s under-75 kilogram fight by Sandy Firmansyah.

The championship, held at the Prince Hamzah Hall, Sport City, was opened by Princess Zeina Rashed, the wife of King Abdullah II bin Hussein`s cousin, and closed by Prince Hassan bin Talal, uncle of the King, who awarded the medals to the winners.

The AKF 2018 Championship is a test run before the 18th Asian Games and qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.

Rudy Gunarto from the National Training Supervisory Team of the Executive Board of the Karate Sport Federation in Indonesia remarked that in recent weeks, the karate athletes had participated in a series of trainings and matches in several countries.

Some activities of the Indonesian karate national team include the training camp in Egypt, the Asian karate championship in Jordan and continued with training camps in Ukraine and Japan, respectively for "kumite" and "kata."

Through participation in the series of activities, the athletes are expected to deliver peak performance to play optimally in the 18th Asian Games next month. (ANTARA)

Indonesian badminton legend Susy Susanti has said that the Asian Games torch, which she has just picked up from New Delhi, is a symbol of friendship between Indonesia and India.

The torch would also serve as a symbol for the success of the Asian Games implementation and for the athletes of Indonesia, as the host, she said upon her arrival in Yogyakarta on Tuesday from India.

"The process of (carrying) the Asian Games flame is an amazing experience for me. The process was smooth, except for a minor obstacle while trying to enter the airport in India," she told the press.

Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force Marshal, Yuyu Sutisna, confirmed that there was a problem when the New Delhi airport authorities tried to stop them from carrying the torch.

"In accordance with civil aviation safety, even a cigarette is not allowed on a plane. But, we had sought permission from the local authorities to take the Asian Games flame (to Indonesia), although the process of obtaining the permission took time," he stated.

The Asian Games torch was carried to Yogyakarta from New Delhi aboard a Boeing 737-500 owned by the Indonesian Air Force. The flight took around 11 hours.

"We departed (for New Delhi) to pick up the torch on Saturday (July 14). The flame was kept for one night at the Indonesian embassy in India, before being taken to Indonesia by plane," he remarked.

Yogyakarta has been selected as the start of the Asian Games torch relay in Indonesia because it is known as the city of culture, history, education, and tourism, according to Erick Thohir, chairman of the Indonesian Organizing Committee of Asian Games 2018.

Choosing the right city as the start line of the Asian Games torch rally is important because Asian Games is not just a mere sport event but is a means to promote the tourism and image of Indonesia worldwide, he remarked.

"Yogyakarta is a historic city, and we want to promote its tourism," Thohir revealed.

The 2018 Asian Games torch relay began its 18,000-kilometer journey on Sunday from the National Stadium in New Delhi, where the flame was lit for the first time at the inaugural edition in 1951.

In Indonesia, the relay will cover 18 provinces across the country, prior to the implementation of the 18th Asian Games, which would be co-hosted by Jakarta and the South Sumatra provincial capital of Palembang from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018. (ANTARA)

The Asian Games 2018 is not only a multi-sport event but also offers the momentum to promote Indonesian culture and tourism, Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) Chief Erick Thohir stated.

Thohir attended a ceremony to welcome the Asian Games flame at the Adisutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday.

Various cultural attractions were presented by the Yogyakarta Culture Department to welcome the arrival of the Asian Games flame, ranging from "gamelan" to Sekar Pudyastuti dance. The flame was then escorted to the Museum Dirgantara by a parade of the classic drum band of "bregodo," or the Yogyakarta royal infantry troop.

"Our rich culture, as we see today, is in the global spotlight," Thohir emphasized.

Hence, he opined that Yogyakarta being selected as the first stop of the flame is the right decision, considering that it is also a historical city.

"Starting tomorrow, the flame will be united with the eternal flame from Mrapen (Grobogan Regency, Central Java) and will be carried in the rally that passes through 53 cities in Indonesia," he added.

The Boeing Air Force AU A-7307 aircraft, carrying aboard the Asian Games flame from New Delhi, India, arrived at the Adisutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday morning. The flame has been installed at Museum Dirgantara.

Torch Organizer Relay Asian Games 2018 Virza Reskyana Indra stated that after being installed at the Aerospace Museum, on Wednesday (July 18), the Asian Games flame will be carried to the Ratu Boko temple. In the evening, the torch will be brought to Prambanan Temple to be united with the eternal fire of Mrapen by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

On Thursday (July 19), he noted that the Asian Games torch will be brought to the Jogja Monument to be relayed along the 10 kilometers through Jalan Mangkubumi, Malioboro, Zero Kilometer Point, to Yogyakarta Square. After returning to Tugu Yogyakarta, the Asian Games torch will be handed over by Yogyakarta Mayor Haryadi Suyuti to the INASGOC Committee to be taken to Solo, Central Java. (ANTARA)