Indonesian president to visit Malaysia to boost bilateral relations

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo is set to embark on a two-day working visit to Malaysia starting Wednesday to "strengthen further the longstanding and close relations," the latter's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Widodo will meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the two leaders are expected to exchange views on regional and global issues, including on the strengthening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

They will also witness the "exchange of several bilateral agreements" that will be signed between officials of the two countries, the press release said.

Accompanying Widodo will be Indonesia's first lady Iriana Joko Widodo, as well as Cabinet ministers and senior officials from his government.

Widodo will also have an afternoon tea session with the Malaysian king at Istana Negara, the monarch's official residence.

In January, Anwar paid his first overseas trip to Jakarta since taking office last November.

Trade volume between the two nations reached approximately $23 billion in 2021.