Jakarta: Indonesian president receives Serbian counterpart

Jakarta: Indonesian president receives Serbian counterpart

Widodo "prepared a welcoming ceremony with full military honors for President Nikolic and his wife Dragica on the second day of the Serbian president's official visit to Indonesia," Nikolic's press office said.

Following the ceremony, Nikolic and Widodo held a tete-a-tete meeting, which lasted nearly an hour.

During a plenary meeting that followed, Widodo said he was happy to see a Serbian president visiting Indonesia for the first time after 58 years.

He noted that bilateral relations were very good and improving economic relations was a priority, and there was room for promoting cooperation in the fields of education, culture and new technologies.

Nikolic thanked Widodo "for the cordial welcome he had received and Indonesia's willingness to boost cooperation in all areas, and Widodo said he would encourage investors from that country to invest in Serbia," the statement said.

Nikolic, who is on a three-day official visit to Indonesia, earlier in the day laid a wreath at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery and signed a memorial book.

The military cemetery in Kalibata is a final resting place for national heroes, war veterans, and soldiers who died in the fight for Indonesia's independence, the president's press office said.