Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) — Indonesian leader Joko Widodo arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday evening, becoming the first foreign president to visit the country this year.
Widodo, whose official trip will last until Jan. 11, landed at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City a few minutes past 8 p.m.
He is set to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday at the Malacañan Palace, where they are expected to reaffirm their countries’ ties and review progress on areas of partnership following Marcos’ visit to Indonesia in September 2022.
At that time, Marcos and Widodo had witnessed the signing of key agreements on defense and security, cultural relations, development of the creative economy, and a five-year plan of action to improve cooperation.
Malacañang said Widodo was welcomed at the Villamor Air Base by Philippine officials, including Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Ambassador to Indonesia Gina Jamoralin, Chief of Presidential Protocol Reichel Quiñones, and Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.
Also present were Indonesian Ambassador Agus Widjojo and Defense Attaché Col. Bambang Wijonarko, among others.
Hours before Widodo’s arrival, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, co-chaired the ministerial meeting of the 7th Philippines-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.
The top diplomats said the two nations have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in addressing common challenges and global issues, such as tensions in the disputed South China Sea, the crisis in Myanmar, and the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Manalo also said he has reiterated the Philippines’ appeal for Indonesia to grant executive clemency to Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina who has been on death row in the neighboring country since 2010 due to drug trafficking.
The Cabanatuan City native will be 39 years old on Jan. 10.
