VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi emphasized that there was no trade war between Indonesia and the United States (US). The statement was made by Foreign Minister Retno, after holding a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State, Michael Richard Pompeo in Jakarta, Saturday, August 4, 2018. According to Retno, currently what is happening is a trade war between the US affecting all countries in the world including Indonesia. The absence of a trade war between the US and Indonesia, according to the Indonesian Foreign Minister, was seen from the visit of the Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggariasto Lukita to the United States to meet with US Trade Minister Wilbur Ross, US trade representative (USTR), and business circles.

“When the Indonesian Minister of Trade visited the United States, he certainly met with his partners. His partners are the Minister of Trade of the United States and also USTR, and also with businesses there. The essence of the visit is one, strengthening trade and investment, the second is pressing the barrier issues, friends not to be trapped in the sentence that there is a trade war between Indonesia and America. We have no trade war with America. What is happening now is a trade war between the United States and China. But I said earlier that the situation and conditions of trade between America and China would certainly affect all countries in the world,” Retno Marsudi said.

On the same occasion, the Indonesian Ambassador to the US Budi Bowoleksono said the results of the visit of the Indonesian Minister of Trade were positive because there was potential to increase trade growth between the two countries. However, according to Ambassador Budi there are still trade barriers between the two countries. He said, one of the obstacles discussed was the World Trade Organization (WTO) policy in agriculture. The policy requires its member countries to liberalize the agricultural sector while Indonesia does not fully liberalize the agricultural sector. Besides that another obstacle that also arises is related to inspection of seafood products in the US. As for the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) which is rumored to be revoked, Ambassador Budi said it was still under discussion. According to Ambassador Budi, GSP is a facility provided by the US to Indonesia. This facility is not a right. GSP is a facility to help developing countries grow economically. But this facility has requirements. That is, the removal of market access barriers to US products in Indonesia. At present the US is indeed conducting a review of GSP facilities and the process is still ongoing. (VOI / Rezha/AHM)

Orchestra from Asturias, Spain, Orquesta De Camara de Siero-OCAS, again held a number of collaborative music concerts with traditional Indonesian musicians. The music project titled Vinculos For Indonesia 2018 was held in Maluku, Central Sulawesi, Riau and DKI Jakarta provinces during August and September 2018. This is the second time OCAS visited Indonesia after a successful concert with Mataniari traditional musicians in Lake Toba, North Sumatra and Thousand Islands last year. This year, OCAS presents several collaboration, educational, workshop and other cultural and social activities in Ambon, Sigi and Parigi Moutong regencies, Pekanbaru and Jakarta. OCAS Conductor Manuel Paz on Thursday evening, August 2, in Ambon said they will collaborate with Ambonese traditional music group, Tahuri from Negeri Hutumuri. At the concert, OCAS will bring three traditional Ambon songs.

“Together with Tahuri, from Ambon music there are 3 songs. In addition there are some songs from Asturias. Then there are some songs from Latin America. You see, Latin America and Spain, even though the distance is far away but both have many similarities. Then there are two songs from Andalusia because there are two OCAS members from Andalusia,” Manuel Paz said..

Manuel Paz further explained, the traditional song was titled Ayo Mama, Huhate and Goro-gorone. With the theme of spreading the spirit of solidarity, peace, unity in pluralism, the Vinculos for Indonesia 2018 was held in the city of Ambon 3 and 5 August which will be projected as UNESCO's International City of Music in 2019. Vinculos is implemented as part of Indonesia's strong commitment through the Ministry of Education and Culture to strengthen cultural cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Spain. This activity also coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Spain. OCAS orchestra group will also hold flash mobs or mass dances in Maluku City Mall and big concerts at Ambon Cultural Park. (VOI/SEKAR/DP)

A series of activities of the Vinculos 2018 music project by the Spanish orchestra group OCAS in Indonesia are considered to be able to further enhance cultural cooperation between Indonesia and Spain. Director of Diplomacy and Cultural Heritage, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture, Nadjamuddin Ramly said this activity was part of cultural diplomacy of the two countries. After the collaboration between OCAS and Indonesian traditional musicians, the Kakoya Tahuri Negeri Hutumuri Studio, on Saturday, August 4 in Ambon, he said, this activity was also part of the 60th anniversary of the relations between Indonesia and Spain.

“I think it is a momentum of a good relation between Indonesia and Spain which has been established since a long time. Now with this kind of support, cultural exchanges become more familiar. Become more qualified,” Nadjamuddin Ramly said.

Nadjamuddin Ramly said his party would continue this activity every year, not only inviting Spanish musicians, but also from European countries, the US and Latin America. On the same occasion, Deputy Mayor of Ambon, Syarief Hadler said, various activities from the Vinculos music project could encourage the acceleration of Ambon's requirements as a world music city in 2019. The series of OCAS activities in Ambon from July 31 to August 4 included flashmob in Maluku City Mall and workshops, visiting traditional villages, concerts, and holding music workshops at the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) and Ambon Institute of State Christianity (IAKN). (VOI/SEKAR/AHM)

President Joko Widodo was accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and together with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Mufida Jusuf Kalla attended Poco-Poco Mass Dance to break the Guiness World Book of Records at the National Monument (Monas) Square, Jakarta on Sunday (05/08/2018) Morning.

The largest Poco-Poco performance involved 61 thousand participants from various institutions the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Indonesian Police (Polri), Ministry and State Institutions, with 1500 instructors.

In his speech, President Jokowi congratulated all participants.

This performance was monitored directly by the Guinness World of Records Team. (KBRN/DIPTA/AHM)