President Joko Widodo (second from left) (Source: AP)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia on September 23 kicked off campaigning forIndonesia's presidential election, scheduled for April 2019.
Analysts forecast this will be a race between incumbent President Joko Widodoand former military general Prabowo Subianto.
Dressed in traditional clothing, the candidates and their running mates paradedthrough central Jakarta on September 23 and released doves at a ceremony afterreading out a peaceful campaign declaration. They vowed a peaceful andtransparent race.
The campaigning will focus on several burning issues such as economic affairs,inequality and characterized politics.
Last month, President Widodo decided to choose Ma’ruf Amin, head of the UlemaCouncil, as his running mate in the presidential election campaign.
Surveys show that Widodo holds many advantages compared to his rival Prabowo,who lost to him in the 2014 presidential election.
As many as 186 million voters are expected to cast their ballots at the generalelection, slated for April 17, 2019, to elect the President, members of the Parliamentand local councils.-VNA
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the largest opposition, won most votes at last month's legislative elections, as negotiations to build coalitions heat up ahead of July's presidential polls.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his spouse are scheduled to pay a State visit to Vietnam on September 11-12 at the invitation of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang.
President Tran Dai Quang and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed to strive to bring two-way trade to 10 billion USD towards a trade balance during their talks in Hanoi on September 11.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
President Joko Widodo (second from left) (Source: AP) 
