VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia's men’s-doubles pair Fajar Alfian/Muhamad Rian Ardianto will compete at the semi final round of the 2019 China Open, following a victory over Japan's fourth best pair, Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda, on a straight set game.

The Indonesian pair, according to the official website of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) bwfbadminton.com, finished the game at 39 minutes with scores 23-21, 22-20.

However, Alfian/Ardianto still await their next opponents in the semi final, but there was a chance the pair would compete against other Indonesian top men-double players Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, who are more popular and nicknamed "The Minions".

Sukamuljo and Gideon are to compete against Malaysia's men-doubles Goh V Shem/Tan We Kiong at the quarter final. Apart from Sukamuljo and Gideon, another senior athlete from Indonesia's men’s-doubles, Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan, will also play against Japan's fifth best men-doubles pair, Hiroyuki Endo/Yuta Watanabe at the 2019 China Open quarter final.

Indonesia won trophies in the men-doubles category in the China Open badminton tournament in 1992, 1993, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2016, and 2017. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) discussed ways to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation with Chinese President Xi Jinping's Foreign Relation Advisor Song Tao at the Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, on Friday.

"The president is upbeat about Chinese imports of CPO and other commodities, including fruits and aquatic products, being raised," Deputy Foreign Minister A. M. Fachir remarked after accompanying President Jokowi at the meeting.

Fachir noted that Jokowi and Tao were on the same page regarding deepening bilateral multi-sectoral cooperation. The president has also urged China to step up investment in export-oriented sectors.

"The president is optimistic that bilateral cooperation in trade would reduce the impact of the Indonesian trade deficit with China," he stated.

Tao and President Jokowi held an around hour-long meeting at the Bogor Palace that started at 10:30 a.m. local time.

During the meeting, Jokowi was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Pratikno and Fachir, while Tao was accompanied by Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian.

Tao expressed hope that Indonesia would clock better economic growth and progress during President Jokowi’s second term.

He also commended the progress achieved by Indonesia in infrastructure development, such as the Trans Java toll road and construction of power plants. (ANTARA)

The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) is teaming up with the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND) to increase South Korean investment in the development of infrastructure in Indonesia.

BKPM Deputy for Investment Planning Ikmal Lukman and KIND Executive Vice President Han Kyu Lim signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of infrastructure cooperation and urban development on the sidelines of the 'Business Forum: Invest Indonesia' in Seoul, Friday. The signing of the MoU will hopefully strengthen the longstanding cooperation and relations between the two countries, thereby facilitating the inflow of South Korean investment into Indonesia particularly in the field of infrastructure, BKPM Chief Thomas Lembong said in a written statement released Friday.

"Of course, the MoU will benefit the two sides. We can exchange information with KIND, such as a list of potential projects and investment opportunities in the field of infrastructure and urban development," he said.

Also present at the signing of the MoU were Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Umar Hadi and Chairman of Korea-Indonesia Economic Cooperation Committee under the Korea Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Yoon Chun-sung.

The scope of the cooperation depends on the MoU and covers the exchange of general information open to the public, and the promotion and facilitation of infrastructure/urban development projects in Indonesia, Lukman said.

"For the exchange of information, BKPM can provide not only a list of projects and investment opportunities in Indonesia but also ask investors to show recommendations from KIND and facilitate a feasibility study for the projects," he said.

KIND is exploring 48 projects in Asia, including 15 in Indonesia. They are found in Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Kalimantan Islands.

Among the sectors that attract KIND are transportation, environment, logistics, power plant, urban development and water management installations.

Indonesia is one of the most important markets in the world particularly for South Korean construction companies, Han Kyu Lim said. (ANTARA)