Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi outlined the priorities of the country’s diplomacy in 2015 at the year’s first international press conference in Jakarta on January 8.

The minister affirmed that the first priority will be to ensure national sovereignty, adding that international relations should be based on the principle of respecting the sides’ territorial integrity.

She said the Indonesian government has built a roadmap for border negotiations and will strengthen its presence at national border areas.

Another priority in Indonesia’s diplomatic policies will be improving the protection of the country’s citizens and legal entities, including immigrant workers.

Enhancing economic diplomacy comes next, which will focus on increasing regional and international cooperation in the fields of maritime infrastructure, energy, fisheries and the protection of the marine environment.

Minister Retno Marsudi also said that Indonesia will do its utmost to attract foreign investment by creating favourable conditions in term of administrative procedures and services.

To date, Indonesia has established 18 comprehensive strategic partnerships with other countries.-VNA