Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – Indonesian President Joko Widodo received a courtesy call from Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi who accompanied President Jokowi in the meeting said that this was the first official visit by Foreign Minister Qin Gang after being sworn in last December.
“This visit is the first official visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister to our region, and Jakarta for this time is the only destination,” said Retno after the meeting, according to a statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat received in Jakarta.
Foreign Minister Retno said President Jokowi conveyed to Foreign Minister Qin Gang the importance of increasing mutually beneficial economic cooperation between Indonesia and China.
Moreover, Foreign Minister Retno reminded that until now China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner and the trade balance between Indonesia and China is getting more and more balanced.
President Jokowi also briefly discussed several strategic partnerships that need to be increased between the two countries with Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
Some of them are the completion of the Jakarta-Bandung fast train project, the construction of a green industrial park in Kalimantan, the construction of the Archipelago’s National Capital, to the downstream industry which the Government of Indonesia is currently intensifying.
“The Chinese Foreign Minister conveyed his commitment to continue to improve relations or economic cooperation with Indonesia, including to increase imports from Indonesia, especially for agricultural products,” said Retno.
President Jokowi also emphasized the importance of Indonesia-China taking on the role of motor of peace and stability in the region, considering that this is a prerequisite for ongoing economic development.
According to Foreign Minister Retno, during the meeting Foreign Minister Qin Gang also conveyed China’s support for Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN.
Apart from Foreign Minister Retno, the Head of State was also accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung at the meeting. (mhn/bbs)
Comment