VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Indonesia and South Korea have opened a new round of bilateral ties, after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and President Moon Jae-in agreed to elevate the partnership between the two countries into a special strategic partnership in November 2017. South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Kim Chang-beom, told Antara News Agency, in Jakarta on Thursday ( April 19 ), that the two countries have been natural partners since the start of the diplomatic relations in 1973.

"We have never been involved in issues or conflicts but just ideas of collaboration and collaboration," he stated.

Moon`s visit to Indonesia last year was considered as a prelude to a further jump in a more intensive and substantive strategic partnership. South Korea, he continued, has been working intensively with Indonesia, especially in industry, culture, and research and development.

Now, he believed that Korean businessmen show more interest in infrastructure development, consumer goods trade, lifestyle products, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, logistics, as well as cosmetics and beauty products.

"I think we are increasingly opening a new chapter in bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea," he noted.

South Korea and Indonesia agreed to strengthen cooperation in four specific areas, including the defense industry, increase in trade value, community exchange between both countries, and cooperation at regional and global level, during a meeting between Moon and Jokowi last year. Moon sees the cooperation between the two countries as being well at the moment, especially in areas of human rights protection, democracy, and economic growth.

"For future cooperation, we agree to enhance bilateral relations to specific strategic partnerships, in order to contribute to the ASEAN framework, as well as promote peace and prosperity throughout Asia," he pointed out.  ( antara )