BEIJING. In his first official overseas trip since taking office on Oct. 20, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo arrived in Beijing on Saturday evening to attend the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a prestigious powwow for 21 Asia-Pacific leaders on Nov. 10 and 11. He will also hold bilateral talks with Chinese leaders.

Jokowi is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with China President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Sunday, according to the President's itinerary.

Conscious of the importance of Chinese business to the Indonesian economy, Jokowi will also meet with a number of prominent Chinese businesspersons and travel to Tianjin to witness firsthand the city's highly efficient integrated port service center and container port management system. He will also visit the Beijiang power plant.

Jokowi will fly to Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, to attend the 25th ASEAN summit on Nov. 12 and 13.

After concluding the Asian tour, Jokowi will head to Brisbane, Australia, on Nov. 14 to attend the G20 annual summit, a grouping of the world's biggest economies. The event is scheduled to be held on Nov. 15 and 16.

No bilateral meeting is scheduled with host Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who flew to Jakarta to attend Jokowi’s inauguration and personally appealed for his attendance at the summit.

During the overseas trip, the President is accompanied by First Lady Iriana, daughter Kahiyang Ayu, Coordinating Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil, Trade Minister Rachmad Gobel, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto and Rizal Sukma.

Jokowi's entourage consists of 51 persons, far fewer than his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's , which consisted of some 80 officials, aides and journalists. Jokowi will return to Jakarta on Nov. 16. (Rendi A Witular)

Editor: Yudho Winarto