A Statement by President Joko Widodo on a Joint Statement with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Kirribilli House, Australia, 26 February 2017

Unofficial English Translation 

Thank you Your Excellency Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

First of all, I would like to thank you for the wonderful dinner last night and for the morning walk this morning. We have actually covered all of our bilateral issues on our dinner and morning walk.

The bilateral meeting that we just had clearly demonstrates our profound commitment to strengthen ties between our two countries. That robust relationship can be materialised when both countries have mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity, non-interference into the domestic affairs of each other and the ability to develop a mutually beneficial partnership.

We have agreed that negotiation over the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) will be concluded in 2017, just as Prime Minister Turnbull previously mentioned.

In trade sector, I have conveyed some of the key issues, that is, the removal of barriers to trade, be it tariffs or non-tariffs for Indonesian products such as Indonesia’s papers and palm oil.

In politics and security sectors, I welcome to cooperation that both parties have undertaken so far through the ‘two plus two’ meetings, or in the form of the Ministerial Council on Law and Security, with emphasis on some permanent issues such as counter-terrorism, civil security, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as combating transnational organised crime.

My visit also solidifies our commitment to intensifying the teaching of Indonesian language in Australia. Indonesia already has three Indonesian language centres in Perth, Melbourne, and Canberra. A number of other centres will soon be established in other cities. I have also received reports that over 160,000 Australian students are learning Indonesian language.

I have also appreciated Australia’s support throughout Indonesia’s chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and together we are committed to promoting stability and prosperity in the region. Prime Minister Turnbull will also attend the IORA Leadership Summit in Indonesia in March this year.

Once again, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the warm and cordial welcome extended to me during my visit.

Thank you. (PR Cabinet Secretariat) (MUR/AW/YM/Naster)