Indonesian president to meet with Obama

  • 22/09/2015
Indonesian prseident Joko Widodo will travel to the White House next month for the first time since becoming president (Reuters)
Indonesian prseident Joko Widodo will travel to the White House next month for the first time since becoming president (Reuters)

The White House has announced that Indonesia's Joko Widodo will travel to Washington on October 26 for a crucial first visit since becoming president last year.

"As leaders of two of the largest democracies in the world, the president and President Widodo will discuss plans to expand existing areas of bilateral co-operation," a White House statement on Monday said.

The visit will be an opportunity for both presidents to measure each other up.

It also comes as President Barack Obam, who once lived in Indonesia, presses for Jakarta to play a bigger role in regional affairs.

The world's most populous Muslim nation has long punched below its weight, struggling with domestic economic and democratic development.

AFP