JAKARTA — Indonesia President Joko Widodo stated that his country is ready to receive guests and hold the G20 Summit scheduled on Nov. 15-16, 2022, in Bali Province, ANTARA News Agency reported.

The president made the statement on Tuesday after reviewing several venues to be visited by delegates of the summit.

“It has been already seven days before the implementation (of G20 Summit). I have inspected the smallest aspects (of the venues) since this morning. We have checked everything, and I want to convey that we are ready to receive the G20 guests,” he remarked.

He also noted that to date, 17 heads of state and government, including United States President Joe Biden and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, had confirmed their attendance at the summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will also join next week’s G20 leaders summit “if the situation is possible”, his Indonesian counterpart and the meeting’s host said on Tuesday, adding that Putin could attend virtually instead.

Widodo, who is this year’s chair of the bloc of major economies, said Putin during a phone conversation last week had not ruled out attending the summit in Bali, and would join if possible.

“But if not ... maybe he’ll ask to do it virtually,” Widodo told reporters during a visit to Bali. He did not elaborate. Earlier, Widodo was quoted as saying that his conversation with Putin had left him with a “strong impression” he would not attend.

The Bali meeting is expected to be dominated by tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special operation”. — Agencies