Resident President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with visiting Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Monday and stressed the importance of cooperation in security and development amid simmering tensions in the region and Jakarta’s increasing focus on maintaining ties with its Pacific island neighbours.
After his bilateral meeting with Marape, President Jokowi said Indonesia considers Papua New Guinea to be its “strategic partner” and looks forward to Papua New Guinea’s cooperation in cooperating with regional Pacific island groups such as the Melanesian Vanguard Group (MSG) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Foreign Minister Marape visited Bogor Palace in West Java to attend the Third Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Leaders’ Dialogue and signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on border movement, border transport and education, as well as a new MoU on cooperation in the health sector.
President Jokowi said, “I am very pleased that Prime Minister Marape’s visit to Indonesia is a testament to the ever-closer friendly relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.”
“Indonesia is committed to supporting the development of Papua New Guinea and other Pacific island countries.” […] We appreciate and look forward to Papua New Guinea’s continued support in strengthening our partnership with Pacific nations.”
Key topics on the agenda included cooperation in defence, energy and trade, with President Jokowi also stressing the need to move forward with the Preferential Trade Agreement between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
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