The Jepara Regency Government received a visit from the Australian Consul General, Glen Askew, to strengthen cooperative relations, especially regarding services for Australian citizens in Indonesia.
"The focus of the cooperation includes security issues, disaster management, and various other needs that require cross-border coordination," said Glen Askew on the sidelines of a visit to Jepara on Friday.
The meeting took place in the Jepara Regent's office and was attended by the heads of relevant regional agencies.
Glen Askew also wants to ensure that this collaborative relationship runs smoothly, especially in providing optimal services to Australian citizens when disasters or other problems occur.
In addition to discussing cooperation, Glen also expressed his admiration for Jepara's arts and culture. He was impressed by the gebyok crafts displayed in the regent's office.
"I want to order something like this. The mountain part is beautiful and has meaning. I prefer to meet the craftsman in person," he said.
Furthermore, several unique Jepara traditions also caught Glen's attention, including the opening ceremony at the Mantingan Mosque complex on Jepara's anniversary and the torch war, a cultural attraction involving attacks using torches made from dried coconut fronds. These traditions are considered unique and possess strong cultural significance.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Regent of Jepara, Muhammad Ibnu Hajar, who accompanied the visit, provided direction to the relevant agencies to increase the promotion of regional events.
"If possible, every hotel in Jepara should have an event calendar so that tourists can find out about ongoing cultural and tourism agendas," he said.
Jepara Regent Witiarso Utomo also helped promote Jepara's flagship destination, namely Karimunjawa, which he called the "Maldives of Java."
"Later we will invite you to Karimunjawa, the Maldives of Java," he said.
After the meeting, Glen Askew also took the time to visit the RA Kartini Museum to learn more about the history of Jepara and RA Kartini's struggle.