Harvesting palm fruits in Indonesia (Source: AFP) Jakarta (VNA) – Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has urged Indonesia to join hands with Malaysia to counter a plan of the European Union to ban palm oil import.
During talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on June 29, Mahathir said he could not accept the EU’s argument that oil palm cultivation leads to deforestation, adding that the EU’s position on deforestation is unreasonable and both countries need to fight against such policy.
He said that Europe no longer has many forest-covered areas as most of its trees have been cut down.
According to him, the real reason behind palm oil import ban is that European countries are unable to compete with Malaysia and Indonesia in the field.
Talking with the press, Mahathir said President Widodo has agreed to work closely with Malaysia to hit back at the European smear campaign.-VNA
During talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on June 29, Mahathir said he could not accept the EU’s argument that oil palm cultivation leads to deforestation, adding that the EU’s position on deforestation is unreasonable and both countries need to fight against such policy.
He said that Europe no longer has many forest-covered areas as most of its trees have been cut down.
According to him, the real reason behind palm oil import ban is that European countries are unable to compete with Malaysia and Indonesia in the field.
Talking with the press, Mahathir said President Widodo has agreed to work closely with Malaysia to hit back at the European smear campaign.-VNA
VNA
