REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG -- Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked Husein to enhance the aesthetic appeal of Sastranegara International Airport complex by adding more flowers ahead of the 60th commemoration of the Asian-African Conference (AAC), an official remarked.

"The request is in line with Bandung's ambition to be the City of Flowers," Bandung Mayor M. Ridwan Kamil informed journalists after a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla at Gedung Sate here, Monday.

During the meeting, technical matters related to the convening of the Friday prayers were also discussed as several members of Asian-African countries participating in the commemoration of the AAC were too old, he stated.

"Therefore, it is better for them not to walk (to the grand mosque) but instead, to take a bus though the distance is short (from the Merdeka Building-eds.)," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far received requests from at least 18 state leaders to hold bilateral meetings with President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the anniversary commemoration of the AAC and Summit.

"The president has received requests from 18 state leaders to hold bilateral meetings," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi noted.

The commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Bandung AAC is scheduled to be held in Jakarta and Bandung, on April 19-24.

Of the 18 states that have requested to hold bilateral meetings with the Indonesian President, the foreign minister only mentioned 16: China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Palestine, Egypt, Japan, Seychelles, Vietnam, Iran, Nepal, Jordan, Swaziland, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Indonesia has invited 109 countries in the Asian and African regions to the AAC Summit and the 60th anniversary of the AAC to be held on April 19-24, 2015.

Based on the schedule of the AAC's 60th anniversary celebrations, which will be held in Jakarta and Bandung (West Java), a Senior Officials' Meeting will be held on April 19 in the AAC's venue and a Ministerial Meeting and a Summit will follow on April 20, 2015.

On April 21-22, the Asian-African Business Summit will be held. President Joko Widodo will host a state banquet in honor of the heads of state attending the event.

On April 24, the last day of the AAC, all heads of state participating in the events are expected to take part in a Historical Walk in Bandung.

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