VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

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Jakarta - Defense Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon Marine Colonel Fajar Rusdianto survived a Myanmar military helicopter crash in the eastern part of the country on Friday.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), he survived and so did all the other passengers and pilots. Several of them only sustained minor injuries," Director of Indonesian Citizens and Entities Protection of the Foreign Ministry Judha Nugraha noted in a brief text message on Saturday.

The helicopter, carrying onboard a group of defense attachés of several foreign embassies in Myanmar, crashed shortly after taking off from the Lwe Khan Village in the Myanmar state of Shan Dua. Two of its pilots were injured, Reuters quoted Myanmar military spokesman Zaw Min Tun as saying.

The defense attachés from several nations had paid a visit to the area to attend a press conference at a building disclosed by the local authorities as a drug plant.

Myanmar is believed to be the largest producer of crystal methamphetamine. The local authorities have often highlighted to the media the large-scale arrests or disclosure of drug suspects. (ANTARA)

To improve bilateral relations and inter-parliamentary cooperation, the Mexican House of Representatives inaugurated the establishment of the Indonesia-Mexico Friendship Group on Wednesday, March 4.

Indonesian Ambassador to Mexico, Cheppy T. Wartono, through his short message received by Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta, Saturday, March 7 said the background of the formation of this friendly group was based on diplomatic relations that have existed between Indonesia and Mexico since 1953.

 Ambassador Cheppy T. Wartono strongly supports this friendship group and hopes that this friendship group can enhance better relations in parliament.

To improve bilateral relations and inter-parliamentary cooperation, the Mexican House of Representatives inaugurated the establishment of the Indonesia-Mexico Friendship Group on Wednesday, March 4.

Indonesian Ambassador to Mexico, Cheppy T. Wartono, through his short message received by Voice of Indonesia in Jakarta, Saturday, March 7 said the background of the formation of this friendly group was based on diplomatic relations that have existed between Indonesia and Mexico since 1953.

Ambassador Cheppy T. Wartono strongly supports this friendship group and hopes that this friendship group can enhance better relations in parliament.

“So I think this background is actually how the two countries can establish better relations, especially in parliament, and then can benefit all relations, whether social relations, economic relations, or political relations,” said Cheppy T. Wartono.

The Indonesia-Mexico Friendship Group (Grupo de Amistad) was inaugurated in Mexico City, Mexico, Wednesday and was attended by the Speaker of the Mexican Parliament, Laura Rojas Hernández and led by the President of the Friendship Group, Karen Michel González Márquez and the Indonesian Ambassador in Mexico City, Cheppy T. Wartono.

Having 5 (five) members, including President Karen Michel, the Indonesia-Mexico Friendship Group agreed with the efforts of the Indonesian Ambassador in Mexico to advance bilateral relations between the two countries, especially efforts to increase the volume of bilateral trade. (VOI/AHM)

Pekanbaru, Riau - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has expressed hope that the schedule for Hajj pilgrimage would remain unaffected despite Saudi Arabia's decision to suspend entry for Umrah pilgrims to avert further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The schedule for Hajj pilgrimage has yet to be changed. It will run in June and July this year for Eid al-Adha, Amin stated during a working visit to Pekanbaru, Riau, on Friday.

"We do not know yet. Preparations for Hajj pilgrimage are still running normally, but we will observe the developments. If the situation is unsafe, we may have a different decision. However, until now, there is no change," Amin stated.

The vice president noted that the government was able to cognize with Saudi's decision to suspend entry for Umrah pilgrims.

Saudi has also chosen to suspend Umrah temporarily for citizens and residents in the kingdom and barred them from visiting the Prophet’s mosque in Medina.

Saudi Arabia, on Monday, confirmed its first case of new coronavirus after one of its citizens, who returned from the COVID-19 hotspot Iran, had tested positive.

On Feb 27, it suspended the entry of foreigners for Umrah pilgrimage from countries where the new coronavirus has spread, as a growing number of cases outside China deepened fears of a pandemic.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the suspension was temporary in nature but offered no timeframe until when it would be applicable.  (ANTARA)

Bogor, W Java - Some 180 representatives of 130 Dutch companies and knowledge institutions have confirmed participation in a parallel economic mission during the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to Indonesia from March 9 to 13.

The economic mission that will be organized to Jakarta and Surabaya is led by four cabinet members, according to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta, as revealed in a press statement that ANTARA received in Bogor, West Java, Friday.

They are Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of State Sybilla Dekker, and Vice Minister of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality Jan Kees Goet.

"The Netherlands is keen to partner up with Indonesia to create smart solutions in solving global challenges. Both Indonesia and the Netherlands face common challenges in various fields," the embassy revealed in the press statement.

Among the common challenges are the impact of climate change on coastal protection and water resources, the accessibility of healthcare, the shift to a circular economy, and increasing pressure on food production systems.

"This mission will offer opportunities for companies and institutions between the two countries to exchange knowledge and expertise in finding smart and innovative solutions together," the Dutch embassy said.

During their five-day visit, the participating representatives of the Dutch enterprises and knowledge institutions would focus their endeavors to boost and strengthen their cooperation with their Indonesian counterparts in five sectors. (ANTARA)