VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kazakhstan on Wednesday on the first leg of a trip to Central Asia, a region long regarded as Russia's backyard which has drawn fresh Western attention since the war in Ukraine began.

Oil-rich Kazakhstan has already emerged as a replacement supplier of crude to European nations turning off Russian supply and an important link in the new China-Europe trade route bypassing Russia.

In addition to oil, Kazakhstan is a major exporter of uranium, and France's Orano already operates a joint venture with its state nuclear firm Kazatomprom.

At a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Macron complimented Kazakhstan for refusing to side with Moscow on Ukraine and said the two countries signed business deals, including a declaration of intent for a partnership in the much-sought area of rare earths and rare metals.

"I don't underestimate by any means the geopolitical difficulties, the pressures ... that some may be putting on you," Macron told Tokayev, who called the visit "historic."

"France values ... the path you are following for your country, refusing to be a vassal of any power and seeking to build numerous and balanced relations with different countries."

Russia has voiced concern at the West's growing diplomatic activity in former Soviet Central Asian nations.

While on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kazakhstan as a sovereign state was free to develop ties with any countries, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week the West was trying to pull Russia's "neighbours, friends and allies" away from it.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where Macron goes next, have refused to recognise Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories and have pledged to abide by Western sanctions against Moscow, while calling both Russia and Western nations such as France their strategic partners.

"We respect our friends, we are here when they need us and we respect their independence," Macron said. "And in a world where major powers want to become hegemons, and where regional powers become unpredictable, it is good to have friends who share this philosophy."

Asked about Macron's visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia valued its relations with Kazakhstan "very highly."

"In our turn, we have historical ties, ties of strategic partnership with Kazakhstan, they are our allies and our interests are united in many international bodies," Peskov told reporters. (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Two Chinese icebreaker research vessels and a cargo ship set sail on Wednesday for the Antarctic with more than 460 personnel on board to help complete construction of China's fifth station on the world's southernmost continent.

China's biggest flotilla of research vessels deployed to the Antarctic will focus on building the station on the rocky, windswept Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea, a deep Southern Ocean bay named after a 19th century British explorer.

Work on the first Chinese station in the Pacific sector began in 2018. It will be used to conduct research on the region's environment, state television reported.

China has four research stations in the Antarctic built from 1985 to 2014. A U.S.-based think tank estimated the fifth could be finished next year.

The facility is expected to include an observatory with a satellite ground station, and should help China "fill in a major gap" in its ability to access the continent, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in a report this year.

The station is also well situated to collect signals intelligence over Australia and New Zealand and telemetry data on rockets launched from Australia's new Arnhem Space Centre, it said.

China rejects suggestions that its stations would be used for espionage.

The two icebreakers, Xuelong 1 and Xuelong 2, the name means "Snow Dragon" in Chinese, set sail from Shanghai with mostly personnel and logistics supplies on board.

The cargo ship "Tianhui", or "Divine Blessings", taking construction material for the station, set off from the eastern port of Zhangjiagang.

The five-month mission will include a survey on the impact of climate change.

The two icebreakers will also conduct environmental surveys in the Prydez Bay, the Astronaut Sea in southeast Antarctic, and in the Ross Sea and Amundsen Sea in the west.

The mission, China's 40th to the Antarctic, will also cooperate with countries including the United States, Britain, and Russia on logistics supply, state media said. (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - The 2023 Indonesia Martial Arts Games (IMAG) held on October 22-31 in Bekasi and Bogor, West Java, showcased Indonesia's martial arts cultural heritage, Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo stated.

"We gather here to close the 1st IMAG, which was filled with pride. The achievement of this extraordinary event showed the spirit of unity and discipline in Indonesia's rich martial arts heritage," Minister Ariotedjo remarked at the closing of IMAG 2023 here on Tuesday.

IMAG 2023 is a national self-defense sports week with nine martial arts being competed in. Ariotedjo remarked that the IMAG is not only a martial arts competition but also a celebration of the sportsmanship values instilled in martial arts.

"This match was not only a competition but also a celebration of the values instilled in martial arts, and we would like to thank all athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly to make IMAG 2023 a success," he remarked.

He said that the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI), as the organizer of IMAG, will continue to hold the event every two years.

Nine martial arts forms -- fencing, shorinji kempo, ju-jitsu, hapkido, sambo, wrestling, wushu, kickboxing, and taekwondo -- were contested in the first edition of the event.

"Many young athletes participating in IMAG will represent their regions at the 21st National Sports Week in Aceh and North Sumatra in 2024," KONI Chairman Marciano Norman remarked.

He hoped that the athletes would level up in the tournaments they participate in, so Indonesia can produce international champions in future.

West Java emerged as the general champion, with Jakarta being the second best, and East Java clinching the third rank in the 2023 IMAG. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) targets the operation of the Nusantara Capital Airport (IKN Airport) to fully start in December 2024 after the groundbreaking for its construction on Wednesday.

"Today is the groundbreaking for IKN Airport. The operation is targeted to run in December 2024," the president stated while inaugurating the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the IKN Airport in the IKN area, East Kalimantan, as accessed from a video broadcast in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to the president, the construction of IKN Airport is targeted for completion and can be used in June 2024 but will officially fully operate in December 2024.

He stated that IKN Airport is important to support the activities and people's mobility from and to IKN Nusantara.

The head of state remarked that IKN Airport is built specifically to support government activity in IKN and support connectivity in IKN.

With a total area of 347 hectares and a runway of 3,000 x 45 meters, IKN Airport can serve wide-bodied aircraft, he noted.

Jokowi also stated that IKN Airport is equipped with a terminal area of 7,530 square meters for the comfort of passengers.

"This airport will accommodate and improve access to and from IKN with better connectivity and easier to reach from anywhere," he remarked.

The president believes that IKN Airport can increase competitiveness, drive economic growth, encourage the development of potential in the regions, and accelerate IKN development that is currently underway.

During the second day of his working visit to East Kalimantan, Jokowi will also inspect the toll road construction project that will later connect Balikpapan City with the IKN area.

Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Ad Interim Erick Thohir, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono also accompanied Jokowi during his working visit. (Antaranews)