Visit Jokowi, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Welcomed By 21 Cannon Explosions

President Jokowi and President of the German Federation Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the backyard of the Bogor Palace Thursday, June 16. (ANTARA/Desca LN)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a state visit from the President of the German Federation Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Thursday, June 16.

German President Frank-Walter and a limited delegation arrived at the Bogor Palace at around 10.00 WIB. The arrival of the German Head of State was also accompanied by the Nusantara Troops, Equestrian Troops, and the Music Corps of the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres).

After being greeted by President Jokowi, the welcoming procession was followed by an official welcoming ceremony by playing the national anthems of the two countries and accompanied by the sound of cannons blasting 21 times. After the cannon blast finished, the two leaders then carried out an inspection of the troops of honor.

The two leaders then introduced delegates from each country who attended the ceremony, including, among others, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Siregar, Directorate General of America and Europe Ministry of Foreign Affairs I Gede Ngurah Swajaya.

After introducing each other to their respective delegations, President Jokowi then invited President Frank-Walter to take a group photo and sign the state guest book in the Lotus Room, Bogor Palace.

The series of events then continued with the joint planting of the Sandalwood Tree or Santalum Album by President Jokowi and German President Frank-Walter.

After planting trees together, according to an Antara report, President Jokowi and President Frank-Walter headed to the veranda to chat for a moment before holding a bilateral meeting with the delegations of each country.

After the bilateral meeting, the two leaders then made a joint press statement in the Lotus Room. The official welcoming ceremony ended with a state lunch for President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the Garuda Room.

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Germany were officially opened in 1952. 2022 will be a special year for Indonesia and Germany. This year, the two countries officially commemorated the 70th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations.

Although diplomatic relations between the two countries were only inaugurated in 1952, friendly relations between Indonesia and Germany had existed long before Indonesia's independence. Starting from Adolf Bastian, a German ethnologist, who popularized the name Indonesia, the opening of the Siemen Office in Surabaya in 1854, as well as the legendary Indonesian painter, Raden Saleh who lived in Germany in 1839 – 1849.

In 2012 Indonesia and Germany agreed on the German-Indonesian Joint Declaration for a Comprehensive Partnership: Shaping Globalization and Sharing Responsibility, otherwise known as the Jakarta Declaration.

During President Joko Widodo's visit to Germany in 2016, the strategic partnership of the two countries was again sharpened on three focus areas of cooperation. The three focuses are vocational education, renewable energy, and maritime cooperation.

Meanwhile, cooperation in the economic and industrial sectors continues to be enhanced. Currently, around 250 German multinational companies do business in Indonesia, such as Deutsche Post, Robert Bosch, Bayer, VW, Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, Allianz, BASF, and BMW.

In addition, Indonesia's strategic role for Germany can be seen in the appointment of Indonesia as a partner country for the holding of the largest industrial exhibition, the Hannover Messe in 1995, 2021, and 2023. Not only that, a number of concrete programs have also marked the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.

Currently, Indonesia is preparing to send nurses to Germany through a "triple win" scheme. Germany also provided support of Rp. 40.7 trillion for 15 Green Infrastructure Initiative (GII) projects in several provinces in Indonesia.

In addition, until January 2022 Germany provided assistance with 14,164,460 doses of COVID-19 vaccine out of a total of around 29 million vaccine doses that Indonesia received from various international groups. This is in addition to the aid of medical devices and medical devices provided by Germany to Indonesia.