Malaysian foreign minister said that Indonesia's chair of ASEAN in 2023 would be a very strong chairmanship in the midst of quite a number of global challenges.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (locally known as Jokowi) received Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Diraja Zambry Abdul Kadir and his delegation at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday (30/12).

At the meeting, President Jokowi congratulated Malaysia's new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, according to an official statement from the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat.

In her statement after accompanying President Jokowi, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that the president pays primary attention to the issue of protecting Indonesian citizens in Malaysia.

The president hopes that under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the system for recruiting Indonesian migrant workers through the one-channel placement system (OCS) would run well.

"This is where the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia again conveyed his commitment regarding the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia," Retno said.

The head of state also welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's planned visit to Indonesia, which is scheduled for next January.

In this regard, President Jokowi also asked the Indonesian foreign minister to prepare a number of concrete cooperation with Malaysia.

"So, there has been a commitment that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will pay a visit to Indonesia and I was asked to prepare concrete collaborations that could result from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit to Indonesia," she said.

In addition, according to Retno, during the meeting Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Zambry conveyed his support and trust in Indonesia as the chair of ASEAN next year.

The Malaysian foreign minister said that Indonesia's chair of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was a very strong chairmanship in the midst of quite a number of global challenges.

"Dato' Sri Zambry expressed his belief that Indonesia's leadership is a very strong leadership in the midst of a situation that does require strong leadership because the current world and regional situation has quite a lot of challenges," Retno added.

Indonesia will become the Chair of ASEAN 2023 after receiving the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from Cambodia at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st Summits and other related summits at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel, on November 13, 2022.

Reporting by Indonesia Window