Indonesian President Joko Widodo today received Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at an official welcoming ceremony in Istana Bogor.
Anwar is here on a two-day working visit that is mainly focused on strengthening bilateral and business relations between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.
The ceremony began with the singing of Negaraku and the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya, followed by a 19-gun salute, an inspection of troops and afterwards, the introduction of the two leaders' respective delegates.
Anwar and Jokowi proceeded to the palace's Teratai Room for a photo session and guest book signing, followed by a tête-à-tête meeting on the veranda of the palace.
Jokowi then invited Anwar to plant the Hopea odorata tree (locally known as Merawan) in the backyard of the palace.
This gesture is to signify the Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta friendship that is to flourish for years to come.
In a break from the palace welcoming ceremony norms, Jokowi drove Anwar in a buggy for a tour of the palace grounds as well as a visit to an orchard, Kebun Raya Bogor, the world's second oldest botanical park.
Diplomats at this ceremony said Jokowi and Anwar's buggy ride, reflected their close friendship- "familiar, relaxed and friendly".
Anwar is accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Malaysian Embassy Charge d Affaires (CDA)/Plt Adlan Mohd Shaffieq
Anwar will at 4pm hold a public lecture on, "The Malaysia-Indonesia Strategic Relations", at Bank Mega Tower, here.
He is then scheduled for an interview with CNN Indonesia and the local media before he heads home, straight to Sabah
