REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will pay a state visit to the Philippines before attending the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila.

"The main purpose of the state trip to the Philippines is a reciprocal visit, as President Rodrigo Duterte had visited Indonesia last year," Arrmanatha Nasir, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated during a press briefing here on Tuesday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi will accompany President Jokowi during the state visit to the Philippines on Apr 28.

The main focus of the visit is to boost connectivity between Indonesia and the Philippines, Nasir remarked.

During the bilateral meeting, several issues to be addressed by President Jokowi will be in the fields of agriculture, maritime cooperation, transnational crimes, trade, and economy, among others.

Two memoranda of understanding will be signed in the agriculture sector for the exchange of researchers and the establishment of a joint working group.

Moreover, a joint declaration will be inked for the establishment of sea connectivity on the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route for the RoRo shipping service.

Statistics reveal that the trade volume between Indonesia and the Philippines had increased from US$4.6 billion in 2015 to $6.1 billion, or an increase of 32 percent.

Indonesia's main exports to the Philippines comprise coal, vehicles, coffee, and instant noodles.

Indonesia will also promote the products of its strategic industry since the Philippines had purchased two warships in 2014 from Indonesia, Nasir revealed.

After paying a state visit to the Philippines, President Jokowi is scheduled to attend the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila on Apr 29.

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