VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi met her counterpart –Peruvian Minister Néstor Francisco Popolizio Bardales in Lima, Peru on last Wednesday (23/5). During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries. A press release of the Indonesian  Foreign Affairs Ministry  in  Jakarta on Thursday (24/5) stated that the working visit of Minister Retno Marsudi to Lima was the first official visit to Peru since the opening of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1975. In the meeting, Minister Retno Marsudi said that Peru is an important market for Indonesia, and the economic cooperation between the two countries has not yet reflected the existing potential. Peru is the 4th largest trading partner for Indonesia in South America. The value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and Peru in 2017 increased by 5.3 percent compare with the previous year. To enhance trade cooperation, the two Foreign Ministers agreed on the importance of trade agreements between both countries. Minister Retno also expressed the importance of working harder to improve interaction between entrepreneurs and diversifying  products in trade between the two countries. Thus, she invited Peruvian entrepreneurs to attend the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) in October 2018. She also conveyed Indonesia’s planned participation in the "Expoalimentaria and Mistura Food Festival" in Peru this year. In addition to trade cooperation, both Foreign Ministers also discussed efforts to improve cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and socio-culture. Related to this, the government of Indonesia proposed the establishment of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Indonesia and Peru  to be implemented gradually,  starting with "Trade in Goods Agreement" (TIGA). Beyond bilateral issues, both of them also exchanged ideas on various regional and global issues, such as the issues of refugees from Venezuela and Rakhine State, efforts to overcome the use of chemical weapons, and issues of concern in the UN Security Council. Furthermore, the Peruvian government expressed support for Indonesia's nomination as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and the  election will be held on June 8, 2018.