President Park Geun-hye and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, currently on a state visit to Korea, held talks on May 16 at Cheong Wa Dae to bolster their bilateral cooperative relationship. The two leaders agreed to further extend bilateral cooperation so that their relationship would become a comprehensive partnership, and to widen areas of cooperation beyond simply business to include other sectors.

To this end, the two leaders agreed to encourage Korean companies to participate in infrastructure construction projects in Indonesia in the energy and transportation sectors, worth some USD 6.7 billion. The two governments signed a total of 11 memorandums of understanding (MOU). These included eight MOUs covering the economy, including a gas pipeline construction project in Palembang and in Bali, and the Jakarta Light Rail Transit project. The Korean and Indonesian governments also signed MOUs covering the creative industries, and the marine and environmental sectors.



During the joint press conference afterward, President Park said, “In the past, Korea and Indonesia actively cooperated on developing infrastructure and the energy industry. We have now agreed that both countries should strengthen cooperation in order to generate new engines of economic growth.” President Park said that the two leaders agreed to cooperate so that the newly signed MOUs could produce concrete outcomes and mutual benefit.

Bilateral cooperation is set to further diversify in the future. President Park said that both presidents will aim at developing a compressive partnership by “expanding cooperation not only in terms of business but also people-to-people exchanges, cultural exchanges, national defense and the defense industries.”

“Last year, about 530,000 people from both countries visited each other. More than 40,000 people from Korea and Indonesia are currently working in each other’s countries,” said President Park. She said Korea and Indonesia will work together so that youth exchanges can further expand.

She emphasized the importance of close bilateral cooperation, saying, “It's very meaningful that both countries closely cooperate on defense and on the defense industries, which includes the ongoing joint development of a fighter jet.”



Korea and Indonesia will also work together toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. President Park said, “We agreed to work together and communicate closely on the denuclearization of North Korea.” President Widodo also urged Pyongyang to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The Indonesian leader valued Korea as “a very important ally for Indonesia” and “a very important partner with which Indonesia will work to develop industries, firms and the overall economy.” He urged Korea to play an important role in accelerating industrial development in Indonesia and invited President Park to pay a visit to Jakarta soon.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr