President Park: President Jokowi’s Visit Enhances Indonesia-South Korea Synergy

President Jokowi and President Park deliver a joint press statement in the Blue House, Seoul, South Korea, on Monday (16/5)

In her press statement on Monday (16/5), South Korean President Park Geun Hye said that she is glad to welcome the visit from President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and his entourage to her country.

According to President Park, Indonesia is South Korea’s major partner in trading, investment destination country, and also major partner in Southeast Asia.

“Particularly, this year, the Indonesia-South Korea strategic partnership celebrates 10 years since its establishment. Thus, both countries are expected to face a new chapter and seek for several measures towards a better future,” President Park said.

Meanwhile, in a bilateral talk earlier on Monday, President Park and President Jokowi have studied the development of relations between the two countries and discussed several efforts and measures to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries focusing on three points.

“First, Indonesia and South Korea have agreed to enhance cooperation on trading and investment to prevent both countries from being affected by recent global economic downturn,” President Park explained.

President Park also asserted that her Government is seeking a way to expand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and to meet the requirements of the South Korea-ASEAN FTA in order to create a conducive environment for trade and investment. Both countries, the President added, have also embarked on a number of partnerships, be it on infrastructure and power plants sectors.

“President Joko Widodo and I share the same perception that Indonesia and South Korea must strengthen cooperation in order to develop new power to improve. Both countries have also agreed to strengthen cooperation, particularly on creative industries, maritime, and environment sectors,” President Park added.

Furthermore, President Park said that a number of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) that aims to create a synergy in the cooperation to bring concrete results have been signed today.

“Besides cooperation on the economy, both countries will also expand cooperation in other areas including in human resources and cultural exchanges, as well as security and military security industry in order to uphold a more comprehensive partnership between the two countries,” President Park explained.

“President Joko Widodo and I have the same perception that human resources exchange is important to strengthen cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea. Therefore, we have agreed to promote languages studies, as well as promote student and youth exchange programs,” President Park said.

President Park also explained that the South Korean Government would continue to pay special attention to various Indonesian cultural activities so that the South Koreans can learn and understand Indonesian cultures.

“Next year, a South Korean-ASEAN Cultural Center will be established in Busan, South Korea, and it is expected to provide more activities for South Koreans to learn more about Indonesian cultures,” President Park explained.

The South Korean President also appreciated strong cooperation between the two countries on security and military security industry including the ongoing collaborative fighter aircraft development program.

“The cooperation on those fields means a lot because it indicates strong strategic cooperation between the two countries is based on mutual trust. We have agreed to strengthen sustainable cooperation to maintain world peace and security,” President Park explained.

President Park further said that both leaders have agreed to address and prevent terrorism and radicalism that threatened world security. They also exchanged view about the issue of Korean Peninsula.

President Park asserted that the global community must comply with the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program and be united to support the Resolution and take a firm action against North Korea.

“I appreciate the Indonesian Government’s official statement condemning North Korea’s activities, such as its nuclear missile testing and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The Government of South Korea and the Government of Indonesia will continue to make efforts in dismantling North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs and exchange deeper views by organizing several meetings, for example a meeting that related to the ASEAN,” President Park added.

“Allow me to express my gratitude to President Joko Widodo for his working visit to South Korea. The visit serves as a critical momentum for both countries to create synergy that will enhance and strengthen Indonesia-South Korea cooperation,” President Park concluded. (GUN/UN) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)