REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- U.S. Vice President Michael R Pence's planned visit to Indonesia in mid-April will focus on efforts to increase economic cooperation and regional security, U.S. Ambassador Joseph R Donovan said here on Friday.
"During the visit, he will meet with President Joko Widodo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and a number of senior ministers and other Indonesian government officials," he said in a written statement received by Antara.
Donovan added that besides the economic and security sectors, Pence will also discuss efforts to boost relations and exchange of community members.
Vice President Pence will learn about religious diversity in Indonesia and the tradition of inter-religious tolerance among religious leaders.
To increase economic cooperation, Vice President Pence will conduct discussions with Indonesian and U.S. business communities with regards to listening to their problems and exploring efforts to expand the two countries' economic relations.
"As the world's second and third biggest democracies, our two countries are natural partners and we follow common values and desires to create better economic opportunities for our people," Donovan said.
The U.S. ambassador hoped Vice President Pence would strengthen the common goals to create prosperity for the two countries, as well as support the two countries to work in tandem to assure stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
While in Jakarta, Pence also plans to meet with a number of senior officials and diplomats from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).