Australia is the destination of Indonesian President Joko Widodo before going to Papua New Guinea for a three-day working visit to the two countries.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in capital Jakarta to Sydney, Australia, and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Monday (July 3), for a three-day working visit to the two countries.

"This morning I and a limited delegation will pay a two-day visit to Sydney, Australia and one day to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea," President Joko Widodo told a press conference before departure.

The president said that the two countries are not only close neighbors and friends but also Indonesia's strategic partners in the Pacific.

"This visit is of very strategic value for Indonesia," he added.

In Australia, the head of state will attend the Indonesia-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting (ALM) 2023 with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Previously, the two leaders had held an ALM in Bogor, West Java, in June last year.

In addition, the president will also meet with the governor general of Australia and the country’s businessmen who have and will invest in Indonesia.

"A number of priority agendas that will be discussed in Australia are mainly investment and trade, as there is a drastic increase in trade and investment from Australia, and the sectors of health and energy transition as well as human resources improvement," the president noted.

On July 5, 2023, President Joko Widodo will continue a working visit to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, for a reciprocal visit and meeting an invitation from Prime Minister James Marape.

"Besides Prime Minister Marape, I will also meet with the Governor General and attend the first Indonesia-Papua New Guinea business forum," he said.

The head of state is scheduled to return to Indonesia on July 6, 2023 and will stop by Papua Province to attend the Papua Street Carnival (an activity featuring various creations by young Papuans).

"God willing, later I will return to the homeland on July 6, to Papua’s provincial capital Jayapura to see the Papua Street Festival on July 7," he said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window