VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla received a courtesy call from Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Future of Asia at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Kalla and Binh discussed several issues concerning the bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam; Vietnamese fishermen who have legal case in Indonesia; and a plan to determine regional minimum wage in Southeast Asia.

"The meeting with Binh discussed better bilateral relations and investments. They asked us to give legal attention and settlement to Vietnamese fishermen who are still detained in Indonesia," Kalla noted in Tokyo on Tuesday.

During a half-hour closed-door meeting, the two leaders also discussed minimum wage policy for Indonesian and Vietnamese workers in relation to industrial investment in each country.

The difference in minimum wage standards in both countries, in which Vietnam is lower than Indonesia, causes foreign industrial investment to Vietnam to be more desirable than that to Indonesia.

"There is also a discussion on minimum salary for Indonesian and Vietnamese workers, as well as other countries, to avoid continuous pressures by industries. We want to work together, and we have discussed on how to set minimum wages for ASEAN region," Kalla remarked.

According to him, the difference in minimum wage of workers in ASEAN countries causes inequality and industrial competition from foreign investment among ASEAN countries.

Therefore, the Indonesian government supports the minimum wage agreement for workers in ASEAN countries.

"That issue has been explored, and the Ministry of Manpower has also tried to talk about it. I ask them to discuss with the Minister of Labor of Vietnam and also other countries," Kalla revealed.

The International Conference on the Future of Asia is held annually by Nikkei media, Japan, by presenting leaders of Asian countries to discuss current conditions in regional countries.

The conference was also attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, Korean Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-Yeon and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. (ANTARA)

Kazakhstan Ambassador to Indonesia Askhat Orazbay asks Indonesia to continue to focus on global stability after its election as new non permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for 2019-2020.

"The fact that Indonesia has been elected four times as non permanent member of the Security Council indicated international recognition of the role Jakarta could play in promoting global peace," Askhat said in a written statement received by ANTARA news agency in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Indonesia was non-permanent member of the Security Council in 1973-1974, 1995-1996, and 2007-2008.

Indonesia will replace Kazakhstan to represent the Asia-Pacific. Kazakhstan will end its term as non permanent member of the Security Council by 31 December 2018 and Indonesia will take over on January 1, in 2019.

Ambassador Askhat said , Indonesia and his country share the same view on major international issues such as reconciliation in Afghanistan, Palestine-Israeli conflict, Syria crisis which are the main priority in the Security Council.

"Including strengthening global stability, coping with terrorism, radicalism and extremism," he said.

He said Kazakhstan and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in June , 25 years earlier. (AS/a014)

President Joko Widodo stated that there were four Indonesian priorities to the UN Security Council’s fourth non-permanent membership.

"We want to strengthen the ecosystem of peace and stability in the world by strengthening the culture of peaceful conflict resolution," he noted in the statement at the Bogor Palace on Tuesday.

Secondly, the head of state remarked that Indonesia wants to strengthen the synergy between the regional organization and the UN Security Council.

Thirdly, Indonesia wants to improve a comprehensive approach in dealing with transnational crime, including terrorism.

"Also, we want to synergize efforts to create peace with the achievement of development agenda 2030," he stated.

The president also called on the foreign minister to prioritize the issue of Palestine.

"The issue of Palestine will be Indonesia’s priority in the UN Security Council," he added.

Widodo also ordered the foreign minister to prepare well in the next six months for Indonesia sitting in the UN Security Council, which would start on January 1, 2019.

"This world’s trust is the responsibility that we have to properly engage," he remarked. (ANTARA)

The Women of Indonesia’s Seven Summits Expedition Mahitala-Unpar (WISSEMU) team which has conquered the seven highest peaks on seven continents is the pride of the nation, Chief Presidential Staff Moeldoko said.

"Congratulations on the outstanding achievements. You have become the pride of the nation, inflame the name of Indonesia in the international world, so that outsiders can no longer underestimate our country," Moeldoko said in a written statement received by ANTARA news agency in Yogyakarta on Sunday.

Moeldoko who is a former Indonesian Miltary (TNI) commander for the 2013-2015 periods also said the struggle made by Didi and Mathilda is not easy.

"These are great people who are always making challenges as needs. The spirit of facing this challenge should be made viral to younger generation."

Indonesian female climbers, Fransiska Dimitri Inkiriwang (24) and Mathilda Dwi Lestari (24) managed to fly the Red and White flag on the summit of Everest on May 17, 2018, at 7:15 a.m Indonesian Western Standard Time (WIB).

They completed the 7 summits ascent of the seven highest mountains of the seven continents. The efforts to conquer the seven summits have been made since 2014.

WISSEMU General Manager Sebastian Karamoy said the Seven Summits expedition was undertaken with four years of hard work, both in preparation for climbers, teams and economic resources.

Mathilda Dwi Lestari expressed gratitude because the Red and White flag can fly in seven world peaks. "This success is our dedication to national unity. For you Indonesia," she said. (ANTARA)