Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi inaugurated the Diplomacy Bridge connecting Cibunar Village, Tarogong Kidul Subdistrict, and Mangku Rakyat Village, Cilawu Sub-district, Garut, West Java, Friday 13 July. The bridge built on the Cimanuk River was built from donations from ASEAN Charity Golf - Jakarta Ambassador Golf Association led by Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir. Diplomacy Bridge is built to replace the damaged bridge hit by flood in 2016. In her speech, Minister Retno Marsudi said, the construction of the Diplomacy Bridge is a manifestation of diplomat awareness to the welfare and safety of Indonesian society.
“This is a humanitarian issue, and this humanitarian issue has no boundaries, or in the sense we help anyone who needs help. Therefore, we must maintain our care and concern even though our profession is being a Diplomat. We prove that we care about the society,” said Retno Marsudi.
Furthermore, Minister of Retno accompanied by Deputy Minister AM Fachir and several high officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASEAN explained, the bridge was chosen as a form of donation because it reflects the duties of the diplomat. The Minister mentioned one of the duties of diplomats is to bridge the differences of opinion. He added that the bridge is called a diplomatic bridge with the hope to remind the public to resolve their differences with diplomacy. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)