(Nusa Dua, November 15, 2022) – Indonesian First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo held a meeting with the spouses of G20 leaders and international institutions as part of a series of activities at the G20 Summit at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort on Tuesday (15/11/2022). Mrs. Iriana, who wore traditional Indonesian clothes combined with Balinese woven fabrics, greeted and shook hands with the spouses upon their arrival at the lobby.
The spouses arrived one by one at the lobby at around 9:00 a.m. local time. It started by the Spanish Prime Minister’s spouse, Madam Maria Begona Gomez Fernandez; the Turkish President’s spouse, Madam Emine Erdogan; the Japanese Prime Minister’s spouse, Madam Yuko Kishida; the European Commission President’s spouse, Heiko von der Leyen; the South Korean President’s spouse, Madam Kim Keon-hee; and the Chinese President’s spouse, Madam Peng Liyuan.
They headed to the holding room accompanied by Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Angela Herliani Tanoesoedibjo and Social Culture and Indonesian Community Empowerment Overseas Expert Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Siti Nugraha Mauludiah. In the holding room, they were presented with a demonstration of palm leaf craft, batik, and weaving process.
“Welcome to Indonesia. I am happy to welcome you on the island of Bali,” said Mrs. Iriana, starting her speech at the event.
She said that in this meeting, the spouses were invited to see and share local Indonesian wisdom, from handicrafts to Indonesian specialties. She also explained one of the traditional musical instruments played to welcome the spouses at the venue.
“This instrument is called gamelan. It is an instrument made of environment-friendly bamboo. The harmonic strains of this sound can make us feel as if we were one with nature and produce harmony. This harmony is the life of the Indonesian people who are harmonious and tolerant of our differences,” said Iriana.
She also hoped the spouses would enjoy Bali and extend their visit to Indonesia. “I am sure you will fall in love with Indonesia and with Bali,” she said.
After that, she invited the spouses to see various culture-based activities from several regions of the country in the backyard of Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, among others Mama Noken, gamelan music, Rindik Balinese music, Gondang Batak music, Merak dance, Tor-tor dance, and snakes and ladders children game.
November 15, 2022 by salinatri