President Jokowi Appreciates Indonesia-France Defense Partnership

President Jokowi holds bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Splendide Royal Hotel in Roma, Italy (30/10) (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat’s Press, Media, and Information Bureau/Laily Rachev)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Saturday (30/10) expressed his appreciation for the progress of defense partnership between the Republic of Indonesia and the French Republic.

It was one of three points delivered by President Jokowi during the bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Splendide Royal Hotel in Rome, Italy.

Defense partnership agreement signed by Defense Ministers of the two countries on this year’s June, the President added, is expected to give opportunity for strategic partnership including joint production of main equipment and weapon systems. Therefore, French investment in the defense industry in Indonesia will be highly appreciated.

The second point discussed at the bilateral meeting was about climate change.

President Jokowi went on to say that the consistent implementation of the Paris Agreement is essential.

“Indonesia has decided to fulfill the commitment. To date, the commitment of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Indonesia is on the right track. With the international supports, Indonesia also targets net zero emissions by 2060 or earlier,” the President said.

Amid the increase in forest fires in several countries, President Jokowi further said, forest fires in Indonesia are at the lowest point in the past 20 years, adding that, Indonesia has also significantly reduced deforestation rates.

In addition to the forestation, Indonesia will restore mangrove forests to 600 thousand hectares in the next 3 years.

“This will be the largest mangrove forests conservation in the world,” President Jokowi added.

Related to energy, in August the President has set Indonesia’s transformation to utilize new and renewable energy and to boost green technology-based economy. To that end, President Jokowi called on French President Macron to enhance affordable technology development partnership and investment so that energy and economic transformation can be carried out faster.

The third point discussed was about Indonesian G20 Presidency next year.

Under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, President Jokowi said, Indonesian G20 Presidency will prioritize inclusivity in post-pandemic world economic recovery.

President Jokowi expressed his hope that the French Republic, that will hold the Presidency of the Council of EU, will also support the success of Indonesian G20 Presidency.

“It will be a strategic momentum the partnership between Indonesia and France including bilateral partnership, ASEAN-EU, and G20-EU,” the President added.

In addition to three main points discussed, President Jokowi and French President Macron also discussed about Indo-Pacific partnership. President Jokowi emphasized on the importance of the economic partnership, SGDs, maritime partnership, and connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region as stated in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Concrete partnership, the President said, is believed to reduce tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

At the bilateral meeting were also present Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi. (PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT/UN) (AP/LW)