VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo meets with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday morning (10/1/2024) at Malacanang Palace, Philippines.(Photo: Screenshot of RTVMalacanang YouTube LIVE Broadcast)

VOInews, Jakarta: President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo met with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday morning (10/1/2024) at Malacanang Palace, Philippines in the framework of bilateral meetings between the two countries. In his official statement, President Joko Widodo said Indonesia and the Philippines agreed to strengthen border cooperation and discussed the importance of revising border patrol agreements and cross-border agreements.

"In the field of politics and security, we agreed to strengthen border cooperation and I have conveyed, the importance of encouraging the acceleration of revisions of border patrol agreements and border crossing agreements and the completion of the contiguous shelf boundary as well as strengthening defense cooperation including strengthening defense equipment," President Joko Widodo said in an official statement broadcast live on the RTVMalacanang YouTube account, which was monitored from Jakarta, Wednesday (10/1/2024).

Regarding economic cooperation, President Joko Widodo said the two countries agreed to continue to open market access and safety measures related to Indonesian coffee products.

"To increase trade, we agreed to continue to open market access and Indonesia asked for Philippine support related to special safeguard measures for Indonesian coffee products," President Joko Widodo said.

President Joko Widodo also appreciated the Philippines' trust in Indonesian SOEs in building important infrastructure in the Philippines.

"I appreciate the Philippines' trust in Indonesian SOEs in building important infrastructure in the Philippines and the Groundbreaking of the North-South Commuter Rail Project is important to be accelerated," he continued.

Furthermore, on regional cooperation, President Joko Widodo said that Indonesia and the Philippines see the importance of strengthening the unity and centrality of ASEAN and must uphold the principles of international law and maintain a positive image for peace, stability and prosperity.