US VP in Indonesia sends conciliatory message to Islamic world

Pence did, however, witness the signing of more than $10 billion in memoranda of understanding with US companies in Indonesia on Friday.

United States Vice President Mike Pence made his maiden visit to the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Thursday, amid expectations of a clearer USA foreign policy stance for the region. The divisive campaign undermined the image of Indonesia overseas as a generally tolerant Muslim nation.

Mr Pence has already visited South Korea, Japan and Indonesia on his tour, which is aimed at reinforcing traditional United States alliances.

Jokowi said at the joint news conference with Pence that the two countries would "increase the strategic partnership. which will focus on cooperation and investments".

Pence said the US would continue working with Indonesia to combat terrorism, and said the country's form of Islam should serve as an example to other nations. A series of disputes between Indonesia and American firms has also ruffled ties.

Indonesia is one of 16 countries under review for having a trade surplus with the United States. "It promotes and protects these values".

"Indonesia's tradition of moderate Islam, frankly, is an inspiration to the world".

After Mr Trump's failed attempt to block some Muslim nations' citizens from entering the US, Mr Pence is expected to make an attempt to show the White House's support for religious tolerance.

US VP in Indonesia sends conciliatory message to Islamic world

Pence's visit, part of a 10-day tour across Southeast Asia, comes a day after the Indonesian capital of Jakarta elected a new Muslim governor who had promoted Islamist views through his campaign.

But Pence foreshadowed some reworking of commercial and economic ties, saying that the USA seeks a free and fair relationship that helps job creation and economic growth for both sides. He said that US exporters should face a level playing field and the relationship should be "win-win".

Indonesia is on Trump's trade hit list of nations that he considers the U.S.is losing out to in trade, and USA company Freeport-McMoran Inc., which operates the world's largest copper mine in the Indonesian province of Papua, is in a protracted dispute with the Indonesian government.

Vice President Mike Pence addresses ASEAN members in Indonesia on Thursday.

Special event clearways will be enforced on the city's roads and the number of police officers on the city's streets boosted during the Australian leg of Mr Pence's Asia-Pacific tour.

Mr Pence, his wife wife, Karen, and two daughters, Charlotte and Audrey, are due to fly into Sydney late on Friday and will spend the weekend in the city, before embarking for Hawaii on Monday.

But his administration has also tried to ban travellers from several Muslim-majority nations, citing concerns about terrorism - an effort now being challenged in USA courts.