[ARCHIVO] President in Indonesia: “We are convinced that openness and cooperation are the path to development”
The President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, made a joint press statement in Jakarta this Friday in the context of President Bachelet’s visit to Indonesia.
Speaking at the Merdeka Palace, President Bachelet said, “our countries have had diplomatic relations for 52 years – more than half a century. During that time, we have made progress towards integration and we currently enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship in political, economic and cultural terms.”
During the day she signed a Memorandum of Understanding on visa exemption for the holders of diplomatic and official passports, as well as a Joint Statement regarding the commitment by both parties to finalize the negotiations for the Chile–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) as soon as possible.
The President continued, “this is the right moment to take this step, which will enable the relationship between the two countries to move to a level of greater integration and cooperation. This will also have a very positive benefit in terms of trade, through the creation of the mechanisms needed, and the generation of opportunities to enable us to continue increasing our political and economic links.”
Indonesia is the world’s fourth largest country in terms of population size, the most powerful economy in ASEAN and the largest market in Southeast Asia, which means it offers great potential for this country.
The relationship between the two countries is reflected in their shared concern about a range of topics on the international agenda, such as the environment and, especially, care of the oceans. In that sense, it is highly relevant that Indonesia will be the next host for the Our Ocean Conference in 2018.
The President added, “Southeast Asia is of strategic importance to Chile and that means it is very important to strengthen ties between Chile and Indonesia, between the Pacific Alliance and Indonesia, and also with ASEAN, where Indonesia has a central role. To that end, last year Chile acceded to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and became the second Latin American country to joint this agreement.”
In conclusion, the President said “we are convinced that openness and cooperation are the path to shared development, for the shared prosperity and wellbeing of all the inhabitants of our countries. And this is the path we want to widen, together with Indonesia.”