Abu Dhabi - Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have struck the largest deal in the country's history, with the inking of 16 cooperation agreements constituting five government-to-government deals and 11 businesses-to-business deals.

"The term was used by the president, who told the Crown Prince that it is the biggest deal in Indonesia's history, reached in a short period of time with a Middle-East nation, notably the UAE," Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan stated in Abu Dhabi, on Sunday night after accompanying President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who visited the Palace of Qasr Al Watan as part of a state agenda.

Jokowi on Sunday held a meeting with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Qasr Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The two leaders witnessed the exchange of 16 cooperation agreements between the Indonesian and UAE delegations.

The five cooperation agreements comprised five intergovernmental agreements in the fields of religion, education, agriculture, health, and counterterrorism.

Furthermore, 11 business agreements were inked, including in the fields of energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, ports, telecommunications, and research, with an estimated total investment worth US$22.89 billion, or some Rp314.9 trillion.

In addition to economic cooperation, President Jokowi stated that Indonesia was keen to make the UAE a partner in the propagation of modern, moderate, and tolerant Islamic education.

The coordinating minister averred that he along with State Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, and Foreign Minister L. P. Marsudi will coordinate to materialize those cooperation agreements between both nations.

Pandjaitan remarked that President Jokowi had appointed him to lead a team to facilitate the materialization of the cooperation agreements projected to be completed within a seven-month period. (ANTARA)

Joint Defense Regional Commands (Kogabwilhan) Commander I Rear Adm. Yudo Margono made assurance of the Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels having departed from Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Natuna waters, Riau Islands Province.

However, the maritime security operation in the Indonesian EEZ will be conducted round the clock during the year. Seven naval ships were deployed to support the routine patrols there, he notified journalists in Natuna District on Sunday.

"There is no time limit. The operation to safeguard our waters will be conducted during the year," he noted, adding that the Chinese vessels had exited the Indonesian EEZ by referring to reports of an aerial reconnaissance and naval ships' commanders.

While drawing reference to an aerial reconnaissance conducted by the Indonesian Air Force's reconnaissance aircraft at 2 p.m. local time, the Chinese vessels had already exited the Indonesian EEZ, Margono explained.

Reports on Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels no longer being visible near the Natuna waters were also backed by the commanders of the Indonesian naval ships that expelled the Chinese ships from the Indonesian EEZ, he stated.

Margono expressed keenness to bring to light this latest condition to rectify the information been circulated among members of the Indonesian public, he added.

On Saturday, three Indonesian naval ships still spotted several Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels in Indonesia's EEZ near Natuna waters.

The warships then drove the Chinese fishing boats out of the Indonesian EEZ when they were attempting to spread their fishing nets.

If the Chinese fishing vessels remain in the Indonesian EEZ, they will be apprehended and tried in court.

President Jokowi has instructed the Indonesian authorities to act sternly against those violating the Indonesian EEZ, Yudo Margono stated.

"Do not allow the relations between Indonesia and China to be disrupted by the Chinese fishing vessels' illegal activities," Margono noted in a press statement after joining an aerial reconnaissance of the Indonesian Air Force's reconnaissance aircraft on Saturday. Escorted by six Chinese coast guard vessels and a Chinese ship from its maritime surveillance agency, the Chinese fishing boats were found spreading their fishing nets for poaching. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will shed light on the topic of sustainable city in connection with the development of Indonesia's new capital city in his key speech at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2020.

The president is scheduled to speak at the ADSW on Monday after holding a bilateral meeting with Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and meeting with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son.

"The King invited the president as the main speaker at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. This is a prestigious event on sustainability, and it not only concerns the environment but also sustainable economy and sustainable technology, and so on," Minister State Secretary Pratikno stated in Jakarta on Sunday (Jan 12) while seeing off President Jokowi depart for Abu Dhabi.

The president will highlight Indonesia's plan to develop a new capital city during the gathering, he remarked.

"With the new capital city, the president is keen to invite the international community to make the new capital of Indonesia a showcase, a world model for a sustainable city, with all its aspects," he stated.

"As the president often says, there will be zero emission. It will be a compact city, with innovation and creativity, an economic engine, and so on," he stated.

After addressing the ADSW, President Jokowi is scheduled to hold a trilateral meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son.

Jokowi is planned to depart for Abu Dhabi on Monday evening and arrive in Jakarta on early Tuesday. (ANTARA)

A firefighter died on duty Saturday in the state of Victoria, Australia. The death of Bill Slade, increased the number of victims of Australian forest fires to 28 people. Chris Hardman, Head of Forest Fire Management, Victoria justiified the death of the firefighter who has served for 40 years. Chris Hardman said Sunday that 60-year-old Bill Slade was crushed by a tree while putting out fires.

"Bill was working as a member of a task force in the angles rest area, and he was struck by a tree," said Chris Hardman.

Meanwhile the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, received strong criticism from the opposition and environmental groups related to the handling of forest fires that hit Australia since last October 2019. The forest fires burned at least 10 million hectares of land in six states, and more than 1,000 homes and buildings were scorched. As quoted from ABC News, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government had made various efforts to deal with the fire, including providing mental health services and counseling for affected communities. (BBC/WATI/AHM)