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.