President Jokowi and PM Suga Agree on Pandemic Management Cooperation to the Economy
Detiktoday.com – The visit of Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Yoshihide Suga and Mrs. Mariko Suga to Indonesia on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, is part of PM Suga’s first series of visits after being inaugurated as prime minister on September 16, 2020. President Joko Widodo said that this visit showed the importance of Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region.
“This also reflects a shared commitment to continue to strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and Indonesia. In the midst of an uncertain world, this visit shows that we choose to work together and support each other,” said President Joko Widodo while delivering a press statement with the PM. Suga at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java.
In the bilateral meeting, the two leaders discussed a number of matters, including first, pandemic management cooperation. President Jokowi said that Japan was an important partner for Indonesia in mitigating the pandemic, including the evacuation of 69 Indonesian crews (ABK) from the Diamond Princess ship in Yokohama.
“I also welcome the signing of the Memorandum of Health Cooperation between Indonesia and Japan on 19 October,” he said.
President Jokowi said Indonesia and Japan also share a common vision in advancing multilateralism, including equal access to affordable vaccines. The Head of State said that Indonesia appreciated Japan’s commitment to contribute to the formation of the ASEAN Covid-19 Response Fund.
“I also invite Japan to strengthen health governance in the region to deal with future pandemics, including the establishment of the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergency and Emerging Diseases,” he added.
Second, President Jokowi and PM Suga also agreed on the importance of establishing a Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) for essential businesses. “We also agreed to assign the Japanese and Indonesian Foreign Ministers to negotiate the details and finish them within one month,” he continued.
Third, the two leaders discussed efforts to strengthen economic cooperation. According to President Jokowi, Japan is one of Indonesia’s strategic partners in the economic sector.
In this economic cooperation, President Jokowi welcomed the relocation and expansion of investment from Japanese companies to Indonesia, such as Denso, Sagami, Panasonic, Mitsubishi Chemical, and Toyota.
“I also asked Japan to pay attention to the problem with import permits for agricultural products, forestry products and fishery products from Indonesia. I also encouraged Japan to participate in the Sovereign Wealth Fund Indonesia,” he explained.
Fourth, President Jokowi and PM Suga discussed the Indonesia-Japan partnership in strengthening multilateral cooperation. In this regard, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of the spirit of cooperation to continue to be strengthened, especially in the midst of increasingly sharp rivalries between major world powers.
“The spirit of inclusive cooperation also needs to be promoted in Indo-Pacific cooperation, as reflected in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
“I underline the hope that the South China Sea can continue to be a peaceful and stable Sea. This can happen if all countries respect international law, especially UNCLOS 1982,” he said.
Meanwhile, PM Suga admitted that he was very happy to be able to visit Indonesia, which is a large country in ASEAN, on his first trip abroad since he served as prime minister. He is also committed to continuing to work with Indonesia.
“Japan will cooperate and join hands with Indonesia for the peace and prosperity of this region, based on the strategic partnership of our two countries, which is strengthened by my visit to Indonesia this time,” said PM Suga.
