President Considers His Overseas Visits Effective

Jakarta, Nov 17 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said his overseas trips were effective as he conducted them with a small size of entourage. "It was enough for me to bring two ministers. In attending the APEC meeting, I took three ministers because (they were) related (to the issues)," Jokowi told a press conference aboard the Presidential Plane moments before landing at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport here on Sunday night. The President was returning from a one-week overseas tour to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Beijing (China), the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)in Nay Pyi Taw(Myanmar) and the G20 meeting in Brisbane (Australia). Jokowi said it was not necessary to bring many ministers in an overseas working visit. All ministers can be prepared in advance before a trip could be conducted. "The G20 meeting discussed many financial issues so that I brought the finance minister. It is a must for the foreign minister to always join an overseas visit," he said. In China, the President was accompanied by Chief Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Trade Minister Rahmat Gobel and Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto. Also joining the presidential party were senior observer Rizal Sukma and Regional Representative Council (DPD) Deputy Chairman GKR Hemas. In Australia, Jokowi was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and Finance Minister Rizal Sukma. The rest members of the presidential party stopped in Bali when the President made a stopover at Bali airport during his flight to Brisbane. In all, members of the presidential entourage totaled 50 persons, including presidential guards and journalists so that all could be flown in the presidential plane. Asked about his impression on his first overseas trips as the president, Jokowi said there was nothing extraordinary because the friendly countries respected Indonesia as a country with the largest Muslim population. He acknowledged to have extensive discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visits to the three countries. Accompanying the President during the press conference aboard the presidential aircraft was Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi. Jokowi said earlier he would conduct meeting on Monday (Nov 17) to give instructions to his ministers on the follow up of three summits he had attended. "On Monday President Jokowi will conduct a meeting with his ministers to discuss the follow up of the three meetings," said Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said in Bisbane on Sunday. According to Andi, President Jokowi during his first overseas trips to attend the three international meetings had bilaterally talks with world leaders such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, France`s President Francois Hollande, Italy`s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Turkey`s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.