REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government has congratulated Rodrigo Duterte on his being inaugurated as the new Philippines President on Thursday.

"The government and people of Indonesia congratulate Rodrigo Duterte on his being inaugurated as the 16th Philippine President on Thursday," the Foreign Ministry said in a press statement released on Thursday.

Rodrigo once held the post of mayor of Davao, Mindanao, South Philippines.

The statement said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi to meet her new Philippines counterpart to convey a letter of congratulation from the Indonesian president.

The ministry hoped that the two neighboring countries can forge stronger cooperation in the future, including cooperation in securing shipping lanes in the Sulu Sea, the statement said.

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