Jokowi Welcomes French President Hollande At Merdeka Palace

JAKARTA, March 30 (Antara) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) welcomed his French counterpart Francois Hollande at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday. According to an Antara reporter on the scene, President Hollande's convoy arrived at the Merdeka Palace at 11 a.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time. The convoy of cars, with President Hollande onboard, was welcomed with the song "Maju Tak Gentar" by the Presidential Guard along with the cavalries and soldiers. Indonesian and French flags were waved by elementary school students who were dressed in traditional attire from across Indonesia to welcome President Hollande. As Hollande emerged from his car, he was welcomed by Jokowi, and they headed to the garden to attend the welcome ceremony. During the ceremony, national anthems of both countries were sung along with a 21-gun salute followed by a guard of honor. After the ceremony ended, Jokowi invited Hollande into the palace and held a veranda talk at the palace's rear park after signing the guest book. The two leaders will later lead a bilateral meeting between some ministers from both countries at the central room. During Hollande's state visit, President Jokowi was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi; Politics, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto; Maritime Minister Luhut Pandjaitan; State Secretary Minister Pratikno; Minister of Commerce Enggartiasto Lukita; Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono; and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, among others.