President Moon Jae-in met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi for 20 minutes at Cheong Wa Dae from 11:00 this morning. The Minister, in Korea as a special presidential envoy, delivered a personal letter from Indonesian President Joko Widodo to the President that included an invitation to the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang. 

President Moon said he was deeply grateful to President Widodo and the Indonesian Government for providing full support for his Government’s policies and endeavors to improve inter-Korean relations and settle permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. He asked for their continued backing and cooperation. 

In particular, President Moon expressed his appreciation to President Widodo for inviting both South and North Korean ambassadors to Indonesia to his presidential palace in late April and congratulating them in person on the success of the April 27 inter-Korean summit.

Adding that President Widodo has extended both South and North Korean leaders invitations to attend the Asian Games’ opening ceremony, President Moon further noted Indonesia’s interest in and efforts for helping improve inter-Korean ties. President Moon said he would review the possibility of his participation in consideration of various circumstances and planned schedules. 

President Moon pointed to the success of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics last February as a festival of peace and harmony not just for the people on the Korean Peninsula but all humanity. The President added that North Korea’s participation in that event served as a turning point in ushering in a new era of peace on the Peninsula. 

Wishing great success for the Jakarta-Palembang 2018 Asian Games, the President expressed his desire to see inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation based on sports further promoted through the upcoming Asian Games. 

President Moon expressed satisfaction over bilateral relations with Indonesia advancing to a new level, as the country is a key partner for Korea's New Southern Policy. Korea-Indonesia relations were upgraded to a special strategic partnership during his state visit to the country in November last year. The President went on to ask the special envoy to continue playing a role in and contributing to forward-looking relations between the two countries in her capacity as Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.