Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encourages the improvement of the partnership between ASEAN and Canada into a strategic partnership by presenting more concrete cooperation.
“Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific context can be one launch project between ASEAN and Canada,” President Jokowi said at the ASEAN-Canada Memorial Summit attended by ASEAN leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Saturday, according to a statement from the press office of the presidential secretariat received in Jakarta.
According to President Jokowi, security issues in the Indo-Pacific region are of course very important. However, economic and development issues are no less important.
“The ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook (AOIP) has four priorities for cooperation, namely connectivity, maritime, achieving the SDGs (sustainable development goals) and investment trade. Canada can concretely become ASEAN’s partner in the implementation of the AOIP,” said the President.
In 2023, Jokowi said, Indonesia will become the chairmanship of ASEAN and host the Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Forum.
“Indonesia invites Canada to participate in the forum,” said President Jokowi.
The President also said that it is more important to work together in a concrete and mutually beneficial way in the midst of an unsupportive world.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Minister of State Secretary Pratikno were also present to accompany President Jokowi to the summits from ASEAN and the United States.
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