VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (VOI News) - In celebration of Canada Day on July 1, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Ottawa and the Embassy of Canada in Jakarta jointly organized an online discussion entitled ‘MAPLE’ (Maximising and Amplifying Potential – Live Event) featuring Abdul Kadir Jailani, Ambassador of Indonesia to Canada and Cameron MacKay, Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia as speakers.

In the discussion, Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron MacKay said that Indonesia and Canada are two countries that have many similarities such as geographical diversity, race and linguistic diversity. According to MacKay, this is a big challenge for both countries which must be handled by the governments of the two countries.

"The big challenge that we face together now in a way we’ve grown up separately, but we have this common values, and now we’re in a world where the old rules space international order is under tremendous pressure. I think any analysts of global affairs would say this clearly increasing tension between global superpowers. Canada and Indonesia both are large and powerful middle powers, but we’re not superpowers. And we need a system, a global system that will help us to survive and to thrive. So it’s very much in our interest more than ever, that we cooperate with respected the international system we built on, diplomacy and trade but also on these common challenges of climate change, protecting the ocean and the environment and of course now, pandemic," said Cameron MacKay.

Meanwhile, Abdul Kadir Jailani, Indonesian Ambassador to Canada, said Indonesia has has a confidence that across the ocean, there is Canada, a close long-time friend who has been its partner, in the past and present, and of course, in the future. He added the two countries might face new challenges in the future, but the partnership between Indonesia and Canada would turn those challenges into opportunities. (VOI/AHM)