Jokowi Is In Belgium Less Than 24 Hours, After The 45th Anniversary Summit Of ASEAN-European Unions, The Villages Go Straight Home To The Republic Of Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Photo: BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - President Jokowi and his official delegation have flown to Belgium. There, Jokowi did not spend the night. Less than 24 hours, Jokowi will immediately return to his homeland.

President Jokowi and Mrs. Iriana left for Belgium to attend the 45th ASEAN-EU New Year Commemoration Summit. Departing on a Boeing 777 Garuda Indonesia-1 plane from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jokowi and his entourage took off Tuesday, December 13 at around 09.00 WIB.

"This morning, I and the First Lady and also a limited delegation will head to Brussels in Belgium to attend the ASEAN-EU Summit in the context of 45 years of ASEAN and European Union relations," the President said in a statement before taking off.

The Head of State said that the European Union is ASEAN's third largest trading partner after the People's Republic of China (RRT) and the United States. The total trade between ASEAN and European Unions in 2021 reached USD268.9 billion.

Meanwhile, foreign direct investment (FDI) from the European Union to ASEAN will reach USD 26 billion in 2021. The European Union is the second largest FDI source in ASEAN after the RRT.

"This is why we continue to strengthen, we continue to improve good relations between ASEAN and the European Union. Also, of course, our country, Indonesia, wants our trade to increase between Indonesia and the EU and also investment from the European Union to Indonesia to continue to increase," he explained.

In this visit, President Jokowi will be in Belgium in less than 24 hours. After all activities in Belgium are completed, the Head of State will immediately return to Indonesia.

Also accompanying the President and Mrs. Iriana on the flight to Brussels, Belgium were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Presidential Military Secretary Admiral TNI Hersan, Commander of Paspampres Marsda TNI Wahyu Hidayat Sudjatmiko, and Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media of the Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin.

Meanwhile, a number of ministers have been in Belgium, namely Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

Seen releasing the departure of the President and his entourage, namely Vice President Maruf Amin and Mrs. Wury Maruf Amin, TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa, National Police Chief General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Acting Governor of Banten Al Muktabar.