Joko Widodo expected to talk trade, trust, tourism and foreign tensions on Australia trip

Indonesian President Joko Widodo makes his first bilateral visit to Australia this weekend — a sign relations between the two nations are stable.

Key points:

• There will be a more casual rather than formal affair between the two leaders, Indonesian Foreign Ministry says
• Negotiations over free trade deal will dominate talks
• Two leaders will also discuss the risk of foreign fighters returning from Iraq, Syria

Mr Widodo arrived in Sydney this morning and trade and security talks will dominate his two-day visit.

Mr Widodo, who is commonly referred to as “Jokowi”, was due to address a joint sitting of the federal Parliament in Canberra last year, but postponed the visit after a violent protest in Jakarta led by conservative Islamic groups.

“This visit is very important for us, this is a visit to a close neighbour,” Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said ahead of Mr Widodo’s arrival in Sydney.

Source: Joko Widodo expected to talk trade, trust, tourism and foreign tensions on Australia trip – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)