President Jokowi to Pay State Visits to Turkey and Germany
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno answers journalists questions after attending an internal meeting led by President Jokowi, at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (3/7) afternoon. (Photo: PR/Jay).
President Joko Jokowi Widodo is slated to make state visits to Ankara, Turkey and Hamburg, Germany from Wednesday (5/7) to Saturday (8/7). Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said that President Jokowi would first visit Ankara, Turkey, which is one of Indonesia’s important partners, mainly given Indonesia and Turkey are the largest Muslim country, in which the latter has a population of about 79-80 million.
“So this is a large population, Muslims, and we are also together in various international organizations, such as G20, G8, MIKTA, OIC, and so forth,” Retno told reporters after attending an internal meeting led by President Jokowi, at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (3/7) afternoon.
According to Retno, currently, Indonesia-Turkey trade rate is quite high, which is about USD1.3 billion. Indonesias export value of about USD1 billion, while our imports from Turkey is about USD300 million.
However, the Minister continued, the two countries consider that there are still many things that can be improved. She added that the Government considers there are also some trade issues that should be discussed thoroughly with Turkey. “The point is that we will launch our negotiations for the Indonesia-Turkey Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” Minister Retno said adding that Indonesia’s proposals range from trade and goods to trade and services and others.
Minister Retno explained that Indonesia and Turkey have cooperated in the field of strategic industry development by conducting joint development, both for the land and air dimensions, and also other things. “So we want to develop our partnership with Turkey in strategic industries,” Minister Retno explained.
The third is for countering terrorism. “So that is an issue that will be the focus of the Presidents visit to Turkey,” Minister Retno said.
G20 Hamburg, Germany
After visiting Turkey, President Jokowi will continue his visit to Hamburg, Germany, on 7-8 July to attend the G20 Summit. The Minister explained there are three main themes in the G20 Summit. First is about sustainability, that is, how global economic growth can be performed in an inclusive way and environment-based perspective. Second is resilience. “Resilience is to anticipate the potential risks and also the uncertainty that still prevail in this world,” Minister Retno said. Third, the Minister continued, is about responsibility, which is to encourage joint action for development.
At the G20 summit, according to Minister Retno, there are five sessions, and President Jokowi has been asked to be the lead speaker for counter terrorism issues. “It will be conducted at retreat, so when the first agenda is retreat, the issue is countering terrorism, and the President is asked to be the lead speaker for that issue,” Minister Retno concluded.
President Jokowi will also deliver the intervention in session 1 related to economic and financial issues. (FID/JAY/ ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).
