According to reporting from Antara News, President Jokowi met with New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday (5/3/24,) to discuss increasing trade and Pacific cooperation.
In a press release from his office on Tuesday, President Jokowi congratulated PM Luxon on his appointment and emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between New Zealand and Indonesia, especially in the economic and development fields.
“New Zealand is Indonesia’s strategic partner. I hope that under your leadership, we can continue to improve the concrete implementation of comprehensive partnerships, especially in the economic and development sectors,” Jokowi said.
One of the focuses of discussions between the two leaders was the decline in trade value between Indonesia and New Zealand, which amounted to 18-percent last year, reports Antara News.
Jokowi emphasized the need to formulate new opportunities to increase interaction between business and trade actors, including in the halal sector, and welcomed PM Luxon’s planned visit with a trade mission to Jakarta this year, saying “I am sure this will encourage trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.”
In the energy sector, Jokowi commended the close geothermal energy cooperation between the two countries, including a funding commitment of NZD 15.6-million (approx. USD 9-million) to the Indonesia-Aoteroa New Zealand Geothermal Energy Program (PINZ), report Antara News.
“I hope that investment can continue to be increased, especially to support the acceleration of geothermal energy development and energy transition efforts in Indonesia,” he said.
The meeting also discussed cooperation between the two countries in the Pacific region.
President Jokowi then lauded New Zealand’s support for the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and expressed hope for New Zealand’s support in the Pacific Islands Forum, according to Antara News.
“I also want to push for trilateral cooperation with New Zealand and one of the other Pacific countries in the field of development partnerships in line with Indonesia’s Pacific Elevation Vision,” he said.
Lastly, the president invited PM Luxon to attend the 10th World Water Forum in Bali on May 18 to 24, 2024, which will discuss issues related to water and sanitation amid the increasing impact of global climate change, says Antara News.
Source: Antara News
Stock photo by Kerin Gedge on Unsplash
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