Indonesia, PNG Agree To Strengthen Cooperation In Various Fields

Jakarta Globe, aacc2015.id, Apr 21, 2015

AACC2015, Jakarta – Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in the economic fields.

The two countries are also committed to addressing trans-national crime, as stated by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Sunday (19/4).

“The Governments of Indonesia and PNG have discussed cooperation in various fields, such as economic field and cultural field ,” Ms. Marsudi said after a bilateral meeting between the two countries.

According to Ms. Marsudi, following up of the talks, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries has been signed.

She also said that the Indonesian government has also invited the PNG government to be present in a meeting in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in October 2015, as a follow-up to their cooperation in the cultural field.

“We also agreed to establish a joint commission in various fields, such as in economic field, to boost investment,” she added.

Meanwhile, PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato said that during the talk, they did not discuss issues on both countries’ border in specific.

According to him, the issues have been discussed in their previous meeting.

The Minister also stated the two countries have had close cooperation ties in various fields such as in economc field.

“We have discussed a number of issues, including measures on addressing international crime and connectivity in the Pacific region,” he said.

Mr. Pato added that the PNG government also put their focus on cooperation in the field of institutional strengthening.

“We hope President Joko Widodo could pay a visit in PNG in October 2015,” he concluded. 

(Editor: Gusti Andry, M. Ersan Pamungkas Translator: Penny Patmawati)