VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

"Indonesia together with ASEAN has an interest in continuing to maintain and ensure that the current geo-strategic dynamics do not interfere with peace and stability in the region. The aim is to make the Indo-Pacific region a peaceful, stable and prosperous region ", said the Director of ASEAN External Cooperation / Chair of the Indonesian Delegation, Benny YP Siahaan at the 34th ASEAN-Japan Forum Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, 3-4 June 2019.

This was revealed by Benny during a discussion on the Regional Architecture including Indo-Pacific Cooperation agenda. "ASEAN and Japan have the same goal that peace, security, stability and prosperity depend on openness, inclusiveness and stability in the Indo-Pacific region", continued Benny.

Senior Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Takeo Mori as Chair of the Japanese Delegation, expressed his appreciation to ASEAN in determining attitudes in the midst of competition and the struggle for influence of major powers today. Japan is seen by Japan as being able to bridge and improve stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

In addition, on the Regional and International Security Issues agenda, Indonesia expressed concern over several issues that were developing in the region. "Indonesia encourages the parties involved to dialogue and remain committed to achieving the Korean Peninsula which is peaceful and free from nuclear weapons. Regarding the situation in the South China Sea, Indonesia underlines the importance of relevant parties to respect and continue to support the process pursued by ASEAN, "Benny said.

The ASEAN-Japan Forum is an annual meeting at the level of Senior Officials (SOM) between ASEAN and Japan. The 34th ASEAN-Japan Forum meeting was chaired jointly by Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs / Chairperson of ASEAN-Vietnam SOM and Ambassador Takeo Mori Senior Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs / Chair of Japan's SOM. The meeting also discussed various matters of mutual interest, namely the development and direction of future ASEAN-Japan cooperation, among others in the field of maritime security, eradication of terrorism, cyber security, trade and investment including MSMEs, business to business linkages, regional connectivity, science and technology and innovation , disaster management, health, community relations, education and human resources and so forth.

ASEAN-Japan trade relations have reached 217.9 billion USD and put Japan as ASEAN's 4th largest trading partner. Japan was also recorded as the second largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in ASEAN with a figure of 13.2 billion USD.

In the socio-cultural field, ASEAN-Japan also pays attention to inter-community relations, especially through youth and student exchanges. Through the Japan East-Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS), ASEAN and Japan succeeded in increasing the understanding of youth and students of friendship and cooperation between the two. In the period of 2007-2018, there were 31,542 youth and students both ASEAN and Japan who had participated in the JENESYS exchange program.

ASEAN-Japan informal cooperation began in 1973 and increased to formal relations in March 1977. The ASEAN-Japan partnership then reached the Strategic Partnership level in 2011.

(Source: ASEAN External Cooperation Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The return flow of Eid al-Fitr in 2019 will begin today, Friday (7/6), and the peak of the backflow is expected on June 8-9, 2019, especially through the Trans Java toll road.

For this reason, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) through the Toll Road Regulatory Agency (BPJT) has asked Toll Road Business Entities (BUJT) to take a number of steps.

Steps taken by BUJT such as adding toll booths and alerting reserve transaction officers using a mobile reader, as well as adding signs and facilities in the rest area.

"From the results of the homecoming to H-3 evaluations and the preparation of the backflow on June 3, 2019 led by Director General of Land Transportation Budi Setyadi and attended by the National Police Chief of Correctional Inspector Refdi Andri, BUJT representatives, Indonesian Rest Area Association Managers, Head and BPJT ranks, has issued instructions for BUJT to be followed up, "said BPJT Head Danang Parikesit. (setkab-pkp pupr)

 It is viewed as being increasingly paramount for the government to intensify dissemination of information on online financial literacy among Indonesians to boost the e-commerce potential based on the rapid increase in Indonesia's internet users.

"The government should step up the dissemination of more information on online financial literacy in Indonesia. With a rise in the public financial literacy in the community, the potential for electronic commerce can be increased," researcher of Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) Galuh Octania noted in a statement in Jakarta on Friday.

Octania pointed to electronic commerce in Indonesia continuing to face challenges in the form of low online financial literacy among people.

In fact, she noted that online financial transactions proffered varied benefits, including the efficiency of lowering the time of transactions that can aid in improving services.

Furthermore, digital financial transactions are expected to bolster the government's efforts to lessen money supply that will affect the inflation rate.

The Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) had earlier reported the number of internet users in the country in 2018 reaching 171 million out of the total population of 264 million.

According to the APJII data, published last May, Indonesia's internet penetration level last year was recorded at 64.8 percent.

The results were obtained from a survey and profiling of internet users that ran from March 9, 2019, to April 14, 2019, and involved 5,900 respondents, who use the internet for at least four months from the time of data collection.

Through the survey, the APJII also found that the number of internet users in Indonesia increased by as much as 27.9 million people, or 10.12 percent, in a year.

On the basis of the data, Java accounted for the largest number of internet users, reaching nearly 55 percent, while Sumatra was the second-largest contributor, at 21 percent.

The percentage of internet users in Kalimantan had reached nine percent, while Bali and Nusa Tenggara had an internet penetration level of five percent. In the meantime, Sulawesi-Maluku-Papua contributed 10 percent of the total internet users in Indonesia. (ant)

After holding an "Open House" to stay in touch with the public at the State Palace, Jakarta, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana, Wednesday (5/6), going home to their hometown in Solo, Central Java Province.

From Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base Jakarta, the President and his entourage departed at 14.07 WIB using the Indonesian Presidential-1 Aircraft.

Arriving at the Adi Soemarmo Air Force Base, Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province at 3:00 p.m., the President and Mrs. Iriana went directly to his private residence in the Sumber, Solo area. Before going to his residence, the President had greeted the community at Grha Sabha Buana.

Also accompanying the President and First Lady Iriana on a flight to Central Java Province, namely Minister of State Pratikno. (kemensetkab)