VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan highlighted that the government is striving to continually boost trade cooperation with South Korea through efforts, including increasing investment in electric cars.

The minister stated that the value of Indonesia-South Korea trade had, so far, only reached US$24.5 billion. Meanwhile, South Korea's trade value with Vietnam had reached US$78 billion.

"The ambassador and I will try harder, so that our trade relations will become even more significant," Hasan remarked during his visit to the factory of PT Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia here on Tuesday.

He highlighted the need for trade discussions to deliberate obstacles in the trade between Indonesia and South Korea.

Furthermore, through various conveniences, investment will improve. It will also impact economic growth that can support Indonesia in achieving its dream of becoming a developed country by 2045.

"We discuss, so we can accelerate. Thus, this era, the services must be fast, competitive," he remarked.

Hasan also vouched to continue to encourage electric car investors to invest in Indonesia, including South Korea, through its automotive manufacturer, Hyundai Motor Company.

Indonesia's target of becoming the world's center of electric cars would be achieved with the support of several electric car investments in the country.

"With the increasing investment, increasing export, we will rule the world," the minister stated.  (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno stated that ASEAN must continue to nurture cooperation based on goodwill and willingness to learn from each other, during the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) meeting on Tuesday (11/7) in Jakarta.

"ASEAN must not ignore human rights issues. Our differences should not be an excuse for us to abandon pressing human rights issues in our own region," she said. 

In this regard, Minister Retno highlighted two areas of ASEAN's cooperation in the field of human rights - the need to nurture a tradition of dialogue and to project ASEAN values at global level.

Minister Retno stated that the global crisis and rivalries have exacerbated the challenges in advancing human rights globally. She encouraged ASEAN to lead by example by prioritizing constructive engagements over finger-pointing exercises.

She emphasized the need for ASEAN countries to reject double standards and the politicization of human rights issues. She urged ASEAN to remain committed to push for the resolution of various human rights issues in the region.

Regarding the enhancement of AICHR's role, the Foreign Minister expressed her hope that AICHR's programs would not be limited to capacity-building alone but could also include other initiatives with tangible impacts.

During the meeting, the situation in Myanmar still dominated the discussions. Apart from the Myanmar situation, the meeting also addressed the issue of trafficking in persons as well as the impact of climate change on human rights.

AICHR Representatives also raised concerns about the escalation of violence and the lack of progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC). On the implementation of the 5PC, Minister Retno stated that this issue would be discussed at the AMM Retreat. (VOI)

VOINews, Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno stated that ASEAN must continue to nurture cooperation based on goodwill and willingness to learn from each other, during the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) meeting on Tuesday (11/7) in Jakarta.

"ASEAN must not ignore human rights issues. Our differences should not be an excuse for us to abandon pressing human rights issues in our own region," she said. 

In this regard, Minister Retno highlighted two areas of ASEAN's cooperation in the field of human rights - the need to nurture a tradition of dialogue and to project ASEAN values at global level.

Minister Retno stated that the global crisis and rivalries have exacerbated the challenges in advancing human rights globally. She encouraged ASEAN to lead by example by prioritizing constructive engagements over finger-pointing exercises.

She emphasized the need for ASEAN countries to reject double standards and the politicization of human rights issues. She urged ASEAN to remain committed to push for the resolution of various human rights issues in the region.

Regarding the enhancement of AICHR's role, the Foreign Minister expressed her hope that AICHR's programs would not be limited to capacity-building alone but could also include other initiatives with tangible impacts.

During the meeting, the situation in Myanmar still dominated the discussions. Apart from the Myanmar situation, the meeting also addressed the issue of trafficking in persons as well as the impact of climate change on human rights.

AICHR Representatives also raised concerns about the escalation of violence and the lack of progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC). On the implementation of the 5PC, Minister Retno stated that this issue would be discussed at the AMM Retreat. (VOI)

China's foreign minister Qin Gang will not attend a diplomatic gathering in Indonesia as expected this week, sources familiar with the matter said, extending an unexplained public absence that has lasted for more than two weeks.

Three sources, who declined to be identified because they are not authorised to speak to media, said top diplomat Wang Yi would represent China at the meetings in Jakarta instead.

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday, before Friday's East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum.

Qin, 57, took over from Wang as foreign minister in December and was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to a query about Qin's whereabouts.

His absence has not gone unnoticed.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was asked last Friday about an article in U.S. political news website Politico that cited speculation that health issues may be behind Qin's absence. He said he had "not heard about" the report.

Qin was supposed to meet European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last week in Beijing but the meeting was pushed back after China informed the EU that the dates were "no longer possible", an EU spokesperson said.

The EU was informed of the postponement just two days before Borrell's scheduled arrival on July 5, according to a source familiar with the plans.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also due to attend the meetings in Jakarta this week, presenting another opportunity for talks with China as Washington seeks to put a floor under souring relations between the big powers.

Blinken met Qin and Wang Yi in Beijing last month, the first visit to China by a U.S. secretary of state in five years.

Wang Yi, who is the foreign policy chief for the Chinese Communist Party, ranks above Qin, who as the foreign minister is the government's foreign policy chief. (Reuters)