VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

As an equal partner of ASEAN, Japan always supports ASEAN efforts in developing cooperation in the region. Japan also fully supports the principles set out in the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) adopted in June 2019. This was conveyed by Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in his lecture on Japan's Foreign Policy towards ASEAN entitled Towards a New Stage of Cooperation with Mutual Cooperation, at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Friday (10/1).

"Japan fully supports the goals presented in the ASEAN Outlook on Indo Pacific and expresses its greatest compliments to the leadership demonstrated by Indonesia in creating this initiative," Motegi Toshimitsu said..

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu also conveyed the reasons why Japan supports the ASEAN Outlook on Indo Pacific. According to him because the image of the future shown by the Indo Pacific had a lot in common with what Japan envisioned as the future of the Indo Pacific. Motegi's lecture at the ASEAN Secretariat was the first lecture on Japanese foreign policy he did abroad as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. (VOI/AHM)

Since the fall of the regime of Libyan Leader, Moammar Qaddafi, the security crisis has not been stable in the country. Thus, the Indonesian Representative has not been able to optimally carry out economic diplomacy. However, the Indonesian Representative in Libya continues to look for opportunities in certain fields that could be collaborated by the two countries. This was expressed by Chargé d'Affaires of Indonesian Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, Mohammad Amar Ma'ruf to Voice of Indonesia on the sidelines of the Working Meeting of the Indonesian Representative with Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Jakarta, Friday (10/1). Amar Ma’ruf said that one of the opportunities to be improved for Indonesia exporting medical devices. He also remarked that the demand for Indonesian-made medical equipment for hospitals in Libya is relatively high.

"It is true that the President said, there must be one target to be achieved. So, our benchmark is that if we talk about product issues, of course, we try to see what the potential products are. Apparently, the potential product is our health equipment. Alhamdulillah, last year, there was a purchase transaction for medical equipment for hospitals by a company in Libya. For us, it's huge. Take for example, the first shipment was worth 93,000 US dollars, and seemingly, they have already had purchasing orders for next year, which are worth more. However, that is just only on paper, and the situation is different now; I'm afraid that suddenly, the war will occur again,” Amar said.

The Indonesian Representative in Libya in a limited basis also continues to make promotional efforts within the Indonesian Embassy, considering that it is not possible to do it in an open place. Promotional activities in the country can only be held through activities such as limited exhibitions by inviting businesspeople and users of Indonesian products and services in Libya. Previously, President Joko Widodo, when opening the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meeting Thursday (9/1) asked for more intensive economic diplomacy. The President set a target for the export increase that needed to be boosted through the role of ambassadors in countries around the world. (VOI/AGUS/AF).

Japanese Foreign Minister, Motegi ToshimiTsu, visited the ASEAN Secretariat on Friday (10/1). During his visit, the Japanese Foreign Minister met with ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, and delivered a lecture on Japan's Policy for ASEAN. In his remarks, ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi called Japan an irreplaceable partner which had contributed to promoting prosperity in the region.

"Since the establishment of the Dialogue Partnership forty seven years ago, ASEAN began relations and one of the most substantive and comprehensive partnerships of ASEAN which has contributed significantly to the development and promotion of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region," Dato Lim Jock Hoi said.

In his remarks, ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi hoped that Japan could improve relations in all fields with countries in the ASEAN region. (VOI / AHM)

Indonesia Foreign Affairs Minister (FM) Retno Marsudi called Vietnam FM Pham Binh Minh in the country's capacity as president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to encourage the institution for reducing current global tension. Marsudi tweeted her expectation from Vietnam to play its role in urging related parties to refrain from unwanted measures to avoid escalating conflicts.

Vietnam was chosen as one of the non-permanent members of UNSC for the period 2020 to 2021 and will undertake its presidency through January 2020. This move by Indonesia as a member of UNSC showed its role in peace diplomacy, Indonesian Permanent Representative for UN, Dian Triansyah Djani stated.

"Indonesia is hoping for calm as in some statements we have demanded that all countries need to control themselves and promote dialogues and collaborations," Djani said at the Foreign Affairs Ministry office in Jakarta, Thursday.

Simultaneously, Indonesia will always monitor the global situation and push on its strengths of diplomacy to reduce the conflicts.

The assassination of Iran’s military commander Qassem Soleimani earlier this month, in a drone strike by the United States (US) at Baghdad airport, Iraq, has triggered the escalation of tension in the global community.

Iran launched some strikes on several US military bases in Iraq late Tuesday to early Wednesday, January 7 and 8. At least 24 missiles were launched during that time.

On the same day, US President Donald Trump stated that the US had pulled back its new military service in Iraq after no Americans fell victim to the missiles attacks.

"The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it," Trump remarked.

He said Iran "appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned" but he said the US would impose additional sanctions on Iran, adding to measures that have slashed its oil exports and crippled its economy, as Reuters reported. (ANTARA)