Indonesia, RoK step up bilateral ties

Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has said that her country wants to enhance cooperation with the Republic of Korea in many areas, from national defence to economy, including the development of the new capital city Nusantara.

Last weekend, Retno co-chaired the fourth Indonesia-RoK Joint Commission Meeting with her counterpart Park Jin in Seoul to discuss measures to promote bilateral relations.

Retno told the press that the meeting held special significance as it took place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, as well as during Indonesia's tenure as Chair of ASEAN and the MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, RoK, Turkey, and Australia) group.

Retno also called on the two countries to optimise the Defence Industry Cooperation Committee (DICC) and the Senior Defence and Diplomatic Officials’ Meeting (SOM 2 2) to discuss strategic issues such as cyber security, peacekeeping operations, maritime security, and counterterrorism. The two countries also need to continue fully tapping the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA) as two-way trade has reached a record high of 24.53 billion USD, up 33% compared to 2021.

On the occasion, Retno encouraged the Korean private sector to increase investment in Indonesia's strategic industries such as steel, petrochemicals, electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy, and the development of the new Nusantara capital. She also urged strengthening people-to-people exchange between the two countries, with a target of welcoming 300,000 Korean tourists.

Meeting Minister Retno, Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed support for Indonesia's role as Chair of the ASEAN and MIKTA, as well as the combination of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the RoK's Indo-Pacific Strategy. He also announced a plan to attend the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia in September./.