Your Excellency, Secretary Pompeo,
Colleagues from the media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Secretary Pompeo, Dear Mike, welcome back to Jakarta.
It is always an honor for me to have you back in Indonesia after your last visit two years ago. We value your visit amidst this challenging time of the pandemic. It reflects your strong commitment to enhance
bilateral relations with Indonesia.
The U.S. is a Strategic Partner for Indonesia, a partnership that is
based on many shared values, such as democracy, human rights,
promoting tolerance and diversity, and respect for rules of law. It is
a partnership between equals, based on mutual respect and mutual
benefits.
Colleagues from the Media,
Secretary Pompeo and I met on an important date. Today, Moslems
around the world celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi Muhammad SAW, the
birth of prophet Muhammad.
My meeting with Secretary Pompeo went very well and productive,
in a transparent and cordial environment. I reiterated the principle of
free and independent foreign policy of Indonesia.
I re-emphasized the need to pursue inclusive cooperation amidst
this challenging time, and I underlined the need for every country to
be part of the solution in the collective contribution towards world
peace, stability and prosperity.
On the bilateral side…
We agreed to enhance our strategic partnership by amplifying our
shared values and interests, while respecting our differences;
We agreed to promote cooperation on health sector. I thank the US
Government for the cooperation with Indonesia during the pandemic, including through the provision of 1000 ventilators. I also
reiterated the importance of building national and regional health
resilience, as the US could play major role to support these efforts.
We agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, particularly to
strengthen the global supply chain and expedite economic recovery.
In this regard, I underlined again the importance of GSP facilities,
that not only bring benefits for Indonesia but also for US businesses.
I encouraged US businesses to invest more in Indonesia, including
for projects in the outer islands of Indonesia, such as Natuna Island.
On Defence cooperation, our Minister of Defence has visited the US
this month and met with various US counterparts, including the US
Secretary of Defence.
In the Meeting they agreed to enhance defence cooperation
including by strengthening defence capabilities and military
procurement to achieve Minimum Essential Force (MEF), training
and exercises, intelligence sharing, and maritime security
cooperation in the region.
With regard to people-to-people contacts, we agreed to deepen
mutual understanding between our two countries.
In this regard I encouraged the finalization of the Memorandum of
Understanding on Education.
I raised issue on visa for Indonesian students … that has been on
hold due to COVID-19 pandemic.
On the regional, multilateral aspect
I raised the importance of strengthening multilateralism that brings
benefits to all countries
I mentioned the commitment of Indonesia and ASEAN in
maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region, as clearly
reflected in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on 8 August
2020. For more than 50 years, ASEAN have played a very
significant role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
We are committed to promote the Indo-Pacific cooperation that is
open, inclusive, transparent, and rules-based. I shared a number of
activities we are pursuing in developing a platform to promote
dialogues and cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo
Pacific.
We discussed the situation in the South China Sea. For Indonesia,
the South China Sea should be maintained as a stable and peaceful
sea. International laws in particular UNCLOS 1982 must be
respected and implemented. Therefore, any claims should be based
on universally recognized principles of international law including
UNCLOS 1982.
We discussed the issue of Palestine. I mentioned that this issue is
close to the heart of Indonesian people. I reiterated Indonesian
position of the issue including the principle of the “two state solution”
Also, we agreed to strengthen cooperation on the UN Peace
Keeping Operations including empowerment of female
peacekeepers. As a reflection of our commitment to PKO I give one
example that Indonesia is ready to maintain its navy vessel in
Lebanon for another 6 months.
Last but not least, we also discussed our collaboration in
Afghanistan. We appreciate the leadership of the US to bring peace
in Afghanistan and Indonesia stands ready to contribute more in
particular on issues related to women empowerment.
Now, I would like to invite Secretary Pompeo to share his remarks.
Mike, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Original post and photos can be accessed on: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
