VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Darianto Harsono, Deputy Director II of the Directorate of American II, Directorate General of American and European Cooperation, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Thursday in Jakarta encouraged increased cooperation between Indonesia and Brazil. Related to this he mentioned that the two countries must pay attention to the strategic cooperation that has been running. He also encouraged to increase reciprocal visits between the two countries’ Heads of State, Ministers and senior officials to improve dialogue between the two countries.

While in the trade cooperation sector, Darianto underlined the importance of increasing the trade value that would improve the living standards of the two countries. He also highlighted the importance of holding visibility studies to increase the economic cooperation between the two countries. Besides that he also invited the community to increase the number of visits between the two countries.

"Both coutries in this regards should reflect on what strategic partnership means and in political patron we have to encourage exchange visit of the Head of States, Ministers and Senior Officials. On trade and economic sector we need to further strengthen our partnership that will bring economic and social benefit and improve the living standards of people of both countries. and it is also important to establish the trade visibility study for Indonesia in Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. specially in tourism sector. i would like to invite Brazil to work together to increase the visit to both countries," Darianto Harsono.

Furthermore, Darianto Harsono underlined the importance of promoting cooperation with Brazil. This is because Brazil is a strategic partner for Indonesia, especially in the South American and Caribbean regions. He also encouraged the two countries to maintain their commitment to revitalize and strengthen bilateral cooperation, including encouraging more meetings at all levels related to the implementation of joint action plans in strategic partnerships. (VOI/NDY/AHM)

United States Agency for International Development-USAID believes that civil society that represents citizens can assist in the process of policy formulation, service delivery and government oversight. The US government through USAID is honored to be able to contribute to the First Indonesian Civil Society Forum, which raised the theme 'Building Capacity to Ensure Sustainability', in Jakarta on Wednesday, (November 14). Expert Staff for Law and Democracy Reinforcement at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Haru Tamtomo, in his remarks said that the Indonesian and US governments have collaborated to create democratic governance through an agreement document dated 29 September 2014.

"The document of the cooperation agreement between the government of the Republic of Indonesia represented by the Ministry of Finance along with the Ministry of National Development Planning Agency and the United States government represented by USAID Indonesia was signed in the assistance agreement No. 497 on September 29, 2014. The cooperation agreement contains sebveral points; one of them is cooperation for pillars of DO or Development Objectives I, related to democratic government," Haru Tamtomo said,

Haru Tamtomo further said that although the terminology between civil society and mass organizations is often used simultaneously, actually the two terms are not the same, because Civil Society Organizations are defined as organized civil society and can take several forms, such as informal institutions without legal entities or formal institutions with legal entities. He said that at present, the number of mass organizations in Indonesia reaches 390,293 organizations or in a day there are around 50 to 100 new mass organizations formed and registered. A number of mass organizations have proven to contribute significantly to nation building starting from the colonial period to the present, such as Budi Oetomo, Islamic Law Society, Taman Siswa, Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama, and Catholic Women of the Republic of Indonesia. (VOI/Viqran/AHM)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has conveyed his support for the peace of South Korea and North Korea at the 20th ASEAN-South Korea Summit in Singapore.

"Amidst many uncertainties, there are some hopes. Among other things are hopes for a safe and stable Korean Peninsula. This new hope will not be possible unless there is strong determination from President Moon to seek peace," Jokowi said at the Suntec Convention Center on Wednesday.

According to the president, Indonesia welcomed the development of the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, and this is greatly appreciated by the world.

Indonesia has been a fellow country of the two Koreas since decades.

"Indonesia fully supports the peace process. This support has been delivered consistently, among others, during my meeting with the South Korean Prime Minister and North Korea`s Special Envoy ahead of the opening of the Asian Games on Aug 18," the president remarked in a statement delivered by the Deputy Protocol, Press and Media at the Presidential Secretariat, Bey Machmudin.

The president asserted that the peace process needs time to create peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Indonesia will remain committed to support and contribute to peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, Jokowi added.

In particular, he also submitted a proposal to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to commemorate 30 years of cooperation between ASEAN and South Korea in 2019 if all positive developments continue.

"Hopefully, with this meeting, North Korea`s commitment to take steps towards a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula will be stronger. In the future, God willing, we will see ASEAN and the two Koreas as important pillars in the regional architecture of peace and partnership to maintain stability, security, and prosperity together," the president pointed out at the meeting.

Jokowi attended the 20th ASEAN-South Korea Summit, which was led by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Moon Jae-in.

The Head of State was also present at several ASEAN summits with partner countries, such as Australia, China, and Russia. (ANTARA)

Padjadjaran University’s International Relations Expert Teuku Rezasyah opined it is time for Indonesia to build dialog with influential countries, including the United States, China, Japan, and Australia, in the region to equate the Indo-Pacific concept.

"Continue to build dialogue with the United States, the People`s Republic of China, Japan, and Australia to increase bilateral trade and their investment in Indonesia," Rezasyah remarked when contacted in Singapore on Wednesday.

Indonesia must then build a period of mutual trust that the Indo-Pacific will not harm the four aforementioned countries in the long run.

"In particular, Indonesia has mobilized the ASEAN to jointly change the name of the Indo-Pacific to the Pacific-Indo, so as not to again give an impression as an architecture made in the United States," he noted.

In connection with Indonesia`s efforts to finalize the idea of the Indo-Pacific, the first is to take into account the perceptions of various ministries and institutions in the Indonesian bureaucracy, as this Indo-Pacific idea intersects with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Regional Closer Economic Cooperation, and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement being increasingly used to form a legal framework and was well promoted.

"Then, create a blueprint of Indonesia`s involvement in various regional economic structures, with Indonesia as an active and balancing actor from various scenarios of economic competition in many large countries at once," he noted.

President Joko Widodo had earlier discussed the development of the concept of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region during the plenary session of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the Suntec Convention Center, Singapore.

"In order for centrality to be maintained, there is no other way for ASEAN except to use the East Asia Summit as the main platform for discussing this concept," the president noted in a speech on Tuesday night.

The uncertain conditions and magnitude of the challenges faced in the Indo-Pacific region can pose a threat to peace, stability, and prosperity in relation to the constellation of global powers.

The president added that ASEAN`s position in the Indo-Pacific region must be able to become a hub, play its role, and turn threats into increased cooperation.

"The ASEAN must remain a driver for peace and prosperity. The ASEAN must be able to turn potential threats into cooperation, the potential for tension to become peace," Jokowi noted.

In the meantime, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi unveiled the Southeast Asian state`s Indo-Pacific cooperation concept that is based on the principles of being open, transparent, and inclusive; promoting the habit of dialogue, cooperation, and friendship; and upholding international law.

According to Marsudi, the concept was developed in recognition of the need for ASEAN to respond with a united front to emerging regional issues, thereby preserving the bloc`s centrality.

The Indo-Pacific concept also aims to link new Indian Ocean investments with mature investments in the Asia-Pacific, she stated.

This Indo-Pacific concept -- stressing ASEAN unity and centrality -- has received positive responses from ASEAN member states and the bloc`s dialogue partners, with Indonesia planning to table the strategy as the main agenda item at the upcoming 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) in November 2018.

Indonesia`s proposal of an ASEAN Indo-Pacific concept is significant for three reasons.

Jakarta`s role in conceptualizing the concept and seeking agreement from ASEAN and its dialogue partners cements its status as the unofficial leader of ASEAN and as a global middle power.

While ASEAN traditionally eschews the delineation of a leader among its 10 states, Indonesia -- being the largest member both in geographical size and population, as well as being one of ASEAN`s founding states -- has long been viewed as having both the clout and capacity to spearhead critical regional initiatives.

The articulation of an Indo-Pacific strategy also speaks to Indonesia`s branding of itself internationally as a global maritime axis. This perpetuates Jakarta`s vision of being the -- Global Maritime Fulcrum -- with key policy thrusts of ramping up naval capabilities, enhancing maritime trade and connectivity, and safeguarding marine resources in its territorial waters.

At the regional level, the Indo-Pacific cooperation concept is significant, as it entrenches ASEAN centrality by placing ASEAN in the driver`s seat in managing regional geopolitics and addressing the multifaceted security and economic challenges. (ANTARA)