Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim discussed ways to tackle the problem of stunting or chronic malnutrition in children.

"President Kim, our focus today is to tackle the problem of stunting in children," Jokowi stated while paying a courtesy call on Kim at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

"This issue is very important to me personally and also for you and the public. I hope that a breakthrough is achieved to overcome this problem. We all know what to do but how can it last forever?" he reiterated.

Jokowi suggested several possible ways to tackle the stunting problem through the use of technology and the involvement of the private sector and civil society.

"We live in the 21st century, which is the era of rampant usage of smartphones and social media as well as the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence. I believe that such current developments can be utilized to build a mechanism for finding solutions to the issue of stunting, as sophisticated technology is already available," he stated.

Moreover, Jokowi and Kim also discussed ways to involve the private sector in national development.

"I am afraid that if we are too dependent on the government, the development process will be very slow. There is no other way than to involve the private sector to make sustainable efforts with initiatives from the community," he emphasized.

In addition to discussing social issues, Jokowi extended his congratulations over the Independence Day of the United States that falls on July 4.

"I would like to convey Happy 4th July to President Kim. We are honored that you celebrate Independence Day of the United States in Jakarta this week," he stated.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that a total of 178 million toddlers experienced stunting in the world.

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem caused by poor nutrient intake for long periods, generally due to poor dietary intake. Stunting takes place in the womb and is only visible when the child is two years of age.

According to UNICEF, stunting is defined as the percentage of children, aged 0 to 59 months, whose height for age ratio is below minus two standard deviations, indicative of moderate and severe stunting, and minus three standard deviations, suggestive of severe stunting, from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards. (ANTARA)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi opened the Indonesia Channel 2018 show entitled "The Colors of Beautiful Indonesia" at Taman Ismail Marzuki Grand Theater, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 4th. Indonesia Channel 2018 is a colossal cultural performance of 72 Indonesian friends from 44 countries participating in the Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship Program (BSBI) 2018. The event was simultaneously held to close the scholarship program which has lasted for three months. In his speech, Minister Retno Marsudi said the program is a form of Indonesian soft diplomacy to promote world peace, tolerance and harmony.

"This is the power of soft diplomacy, remember always, soft power charms and disarm, as advances humanity and its potential for a saver, peaceful and more pleasant life. This is the type that Indonesia wants to promote in the midst of the evolving and dynamic challenges that the world is facing today. Hence, this program has become more relevant as one of Indonesian contribution to the world and promoting peace, tolerance, and harmony," Retno Marsudi said.

Minister Retno Marsudi added that out of a total of 72 Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship Program (BSBI) 2018participants, 13 of them chose to remain in Indonesia and learn more about Indonesian art and culture. They plan to learn bamboo musical instruments and Balinese dance art. In addition, one of them will also write a book about his experience during the BSBI 2018 program. The performance of Indonesia Channel 2018 is an artistic and cultural performance of the study participants of BSBI 2018 program who have different language and cultural backgrounds. For three months BSBI 2018 program participants practiced in Sanggar Semaradana Denpasar, Bali; Rumata Cultural House, Makassar, South Sulawesi; Sayu Sayu Gringsing Studio, Banyuwangi, East Java; Yayasan Seni Gubang, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan; and Art Studio, Music, and Dance Syofyani, Padang, West Sumatra. In addition, the National Development University (UPN) Veteran Yogyakarta is also involved in the training of BSBI 2018 program participants. (VOI/REZHA/AHM)

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also the leader of the Malaysian government coalition ‘Pakatan Harapan’ visited Indonesia. On his visit, Anwar was invited to attend the Executive Center for Global Leadership (ECGL) in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 4 as a keynote speaker on political leadership. On the occasion, he mentioned about the first state visit of Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad to Indonesia some time ago. He said that the visit will further strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia and has a positive impact on cooperation in various fields, especially economy that is the main focus of Prime Minister Mahathir.

“This Doctor Mahathir came to Jakarta and his focus is to tie up economic cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia. Besides investment and import-export,  I also develop cultural, and educational sectors, and these sectors are beneficial to both sides. And the spirit of friendship is that Mahathir showed in his last visit last week. And some of his speeches and his joint resolve with President Joko Widodo for me give  positive and stronger developments,” Anwar Ibrahim said.

Earlier, Anwar Ibrahim first held a special meeting with the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarno Putri. He also met a number of businesspeople from Serantau Business Council and Indonesian political figures. Anwar Ibrahim is currently projected to become the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia in 2020 to replace PM Mahathir who is now 92 years old. (Rezha/Trans/Ndy)

Malaysian politician and former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his views on business relations between Indonesia and Malaysia in a leadership forum organized by the Executive Center for Global Leadership (ECGL) in Jakarta on Wednesday. On the occasion Anwar stated that cooperation between the two countries could be strengthened, as long as the two countries could walk on same basis, especially in terms of leadership.

"If the leaders of both countries provided clear directions and make sure that the cooperation will be improved then their ministers and businessmen will follow. For instance, Pertamina and Petronas or State-Owned Enterprises in Malaysia. So it will be a G to G cooperation. However the business sector will support it so that the cooperation will be implemented," Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar Ibrahim further said that the relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia has been running well. Relations between the two countries continue to show a positive value. Both countries are still supporting each other for mutual progress. The similarity between existing cultures is also one of the potentials that can be developed by both countries in the future. One of these potentials is cooperation between halal industry of the two countries. (Rezha/Trans/Ndy/AHM)