President Joko Widodo's visit to the United States on Tuesday this week was widely discussed. One of them was because the number one person in Indonesia was not greeted by Uncle Sam's officials when he arrived at the Andrews Military Base. However, a spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah, said it was nothing extraordinary. Because, according to Faizasyah, President Jokowi's visit to Washington D.C this time was to attend the ASEAN-US Summit, not a bilateral visit. "The visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia to Washington DC is not a bilateral visit, but in the context of attending the ASEAN-US Special Summit," said Faizasyah when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com, Wednesday (12/5).
The President said that currently Indonesia is the coordinator of the ASEAN-US partnership for the period 2021-2024. Indonesia hopes that this Special Summit will result in cooperation that can contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The series of meetings included a meeting with members of Congress, a meeting with America's top CEOs, a meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris and the US Climate Change Team, and a High Level meeting of ASEAN Leaders and President Biden. The President said that currently Indonesia is the coordinator of the ASEAN-US partnership for the period 2021-2024. Indonesia hopes that this Special Summit will result in cooperation that can contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Regarding Jokowi and his entourage not getting on the Indonesian Presidential plane, read on the next page... Reasons for Not Boarding the Presidential Plane
President Jokowi and his entourage did not use the presidential plane to arrive in Washington. (Archive of the Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau) Previously, Jokowi and his entourage did not board the presidential plane to Washington to attend the ASEAN-US Special Summit. The group used a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 777-300 aircraft on their visit to the United States (US). Jokowi and his entourage did not use the presidential plane. Regarding this matter, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres) Heru Budi Hartono explained that the presidential plane could not accommodate the number of entourage that traveled to the United States. "The presidential plane only fits 48 people, the team has 62 people. And the distance is very far," said Heru, to reporters, Tuesday (10/5). Heru explained that flights using the Presidential Plane also take quite a long time. Because the plane had to make two transits before arriving in the US. "It's a very long trip if you use the presidential plane, you can make two transits. Now this [Garuda] only has one [transit]," he said. According to him, using a Garuda Indonesia plane would be more time efficient to go to the US. Moreover, there will be a team of technicians who will join the group back to Indonesia. "And all ministers who participate can get one PP plane. And the advance team will come back with the plane so that it is more efficient," said Heru.
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