VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia hopes that the Comprehensive Partnership Action Plan for 2024-2025 between Indonesia and the Netherlands can be implemented well. She conveyed this when meeting Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday (31/1/2024).

"I reemphasize several priorities for bilateral cooperation, including energy transition, digital industry, and also the return of Indonesian historical items," She said in a statement received by Indonesia Window here.

Foreign Minister Retno also emphasized the importance of the two countries to continue working together in strengthening sustainable palm oil production.

"As is known, 14 percent of Indonesia's total exports to the Netherlands are palm oil," she said.

Meanwhile, on the same occasion, Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot conveyed the Dutch commitment to cooperate in the context of the development of the new capital. Especially related to water and sustainable cities.

"The Netherlands also expressed full support for Indonesia's application to become a member of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the planned meeting of ASEAN and EU Foreign Ministers, Retno highlighted the progress of the discussion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA) between Indonesia and the European Union.

"I emphasize that the principle of mutual benefit is the guideline in the negotiations. This spirit needs to be maintained in finalizing the negotiations," she said.

Since 2016, Indonesia and the European Union have conducted 16 rounds of negotiations and the 17th round of negotiations will be held in February 2024 in Indonesia. Foreign Minister Retno hopes that the negotiations will be finalized in the near future.

"I reiterated several EU policies that are considered detrimental to Indonesia, including those related to palm oil and EUDR (EU Regulation on Deforestation). I also emphasized that the commitment to downstream industry will continue to be carried out by Indonesia. I hope the Netherlands will continue to provide support for the Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiations," she said.

In a bilateral meeting with the Dutch Foreign Minister, the Indonesian Foreign Minister also discussed the Palestinian issue. According to Retno Marsudi, Indonesia regrets the actions of countries, including the Netherlands, which stopped aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

Retno Marsudi also encouraged the importance of a comprehensive, credible, and transparent investigation immediately, so that all allegations of the involvement of a number of UNRWA personnel in the October 7 attack gain clarity.

"Freezing financial support to UNRWA will greatly worsen the humanitarian situation which is already very bad," she said.

The meeting between the two Foreign Ministers was the third since September 2023. According to Retno, the Netherlands is the first largest trading partner from Europe and also the first largest investment partner in Europe for Indonesia, including in tourism.

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.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi meets with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique A. Manalo ahead of Indonesian President Joko Widodo's meeting with Philippine President Marcos Jr. at the 7th JCBC on Tuesday (9/1/2024) in Manila, Philippines. (Photo: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia should utilize the moment of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) Meeting to strengthen Indonesia's bilateral relations with the Philippines. She said this during a meeting with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique A. Manalo ahead of Indonesian President Joko Widodo's meeting with Philippine President Marcos Jr. at the 7th JCBC in Manila, Philippines.

"We must utilize this momentum to strengthen our bilateral relations in various sectors of common interest and to address regional and global challenges together," Retno said in a statement received on Wednesday (10/1/2024) in Jakarta.

Foreign Minister Retno also said that Indonesia welcomes the strengthening of bilateral trade and exploring new trade opportunities.

"We welcome the growth of our bilateral trade over the past 5 years despite the global crisis to further strengthen bilateral trade, we are committed to exploring new trade opportunities," Retno said.

In addition, in the investment sector, Foreign Minister Retno appreciated and welcomed the enthusiasm of investors from both countries to strengthen mutual cooperation.

"A delegation from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also visiting Manila," she said.

In addition to discussing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Foreign Minister Retno appreciated the joint efforts of the Philippines and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in registering and confirming Indonesian Descendants in Mindanao and stated that Indonesia looks forward to further support for the second batch of registration.

"I also appreciate the joint efforts of the Philippines and UNHCR in registering and certifying Indonesian Descendants (WNIK) in Mindanao and we look forward to further support for the second batch of WNIK registration," she concluded.

VOINews.id, Jakarta: Archbishop of Jakarta, Cardinal Ignasius Suharyo, invited Christians to continue to foster a sense of love for their homeland by becoming smart voters in the 2024 general election. The archbishop hopes that this election can produce leaders who have high integrity and dignity.