VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia has reiterated its commitment to support development in Pacific countries, including in Papua New Guinea. Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said the Indonesia-Pacific Forum for Development (IPFD) meeting which was held in December 2022 had become the basis for Indonesia's involvement in supporting development in the Pacific.

"As we strive to grow and develop together, last December's IPFD has served as a platform for greater engagement between Indonesia and the Pacific, establishing project areas that will support development and prosperity in the Pacific," said Retno Marsudi in a statement submitted online, after attending the 3rd Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting with Papua New Guinea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Justin Wayne Tkatchenko, in Jakarta, Tuesday (21/3).

In addition, Retno Marsudi also emphasized Indonesia's commitment to strengthening cooperation in the education sector. According to her, Indonesia is ready to offer scholarships for students from Papua New Guinea to continue their education in Indonesia.

"And we are also committed to continuing cooperation in revitalizing public and health facilities in Vanimo and Port Moresby," she added.

As part of the Pacific, Indonesia, according to Retno Marsudi, will continue to ensure that the Asia-Pacific Region becomes an inseparable part of a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

In addition, she said, as Chair of ASEAN, Indonesia also wanted to encourage greater involvement between ASEAN and Pacific countries, including by encouraging cooperation between secretariats, namely between the ASEAN Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forums (PIF) Secretariat.

"In this regard, Indonesia invites Pacific countries, of course including Papua New Guinea, to participate in the Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Forum (IPIF), as a forum to encourage concrete cooperation between countries in the Indo-Pacific," she said.

Furthermore, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea share the same vision about the importance of the Pacific's voice being heard in overcoming common global challenges such as disaster management, climate change, and the blue economy.

"Indonesia is firmly committed to this goal and will continue to bridge the Pacific to the world," she added.

Retno Marsudi underlined Indonesia's commitment to make Papua New Guinea one of Indonesia's closest neighbors and strategic partners. He also conveyed Indonesia's readiness to continue to foster close cooperation with Papua New Guinea based on mutual respect, trust, and benefits. (VOI/Andy)