VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI, Jakarta - The 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Archipelagic and States (AIS) Forum, held in Badung District, Bali, on Tuesday, produced seven cooperation documents, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi stated.

"In my opening speech of the meeting, I stated that we had chosen the right path. In the midst of global uncertainties, Indonesia chooses to prioritize the strengthening of cooperation and collaboration," she remarked after chairing the meeting in Nusa Dua, Badung.

"This is the manifestation of Indonesia's commitment and contribution to the world," she noted.

The seven cooperation documents include the document of road map for decarbonization in the tourism sector, document of blue carbon emissions profile, letter of intent (LOI) on maritime cooperation between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, and LOI on joint research involving the University of Malta.

The meeting also resulted in the document of cooperation in the development of AIS Forum's Center for Research and Development at the Imperial College of London, the memorandum of understanding between Indonesia's UNPAD and IPB and Madagascar's University of Toliara.

An LOI on joint strategic programs between the AIS Forum and the Melanesian Spearhead Group was also signed during the meeting.

Minister Marsudi expressed belief that all the agreements mirror the keenness of the AIS Forum participating countries to focus on intensifying practical cooperation and finding innovative solutions that find their roots in the countries' local wisdom.

"We reiterated the importance of solidarity to overcome common challenges. I affirmed that the AIS Forum must become a forum that produces innovative solutions and ensures sustainable maritime governance," she noted.

During the meeting, ministers of the AIS Forum also deliberated on the draft of the Joint Declaration of the Leaders of the AIS Forum before presenting and approving it in the 1st High Level Meeting (HLM) of the AIS Forum on October 11, 2023, in Nusa Dua.

According to Minister Marsudi, the HLM, which will be opened by President Joko Widodo, will serve as a milestone that is expected to encourage archipelagic and island states to bolster synergy to find solutions to deal with global challenges.

The 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum will focus on the blue economy, the future of oceans, and solidarity as well as draw participation from delegates of 30 archipelagic and island states as well as four international organizations. (ANTARA News)