JAKARTA – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with French Defense Minister Florence Parly in Jakarta to discuss a number of global and bilateral issues, including European discrimination against Indonesian palm oil.

During her visit to Jakarta, Minister Parly had also met with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to talk about bilateral cooperation on defense. Minister Parly’s meeting with Minister Prabowo and Minister Retno was a preliminary meeting to the incoming 2+2 meeting (foreign minister – defense minister).

During their meeting, Parly and Retno also talked about cooperation in Indo-Pacific region.

Retno pointed out the principles of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, including the problem of inclusivity and the importance of cooperation in four priority sectors, namely maritime, connectivity, achievement of SDGs, trade and investments.

Retno will express again the principles during the Indo-Pacific ministerial meeting, which will be held in Paris during the third week of February 2022. “We need to prioritize this concrete cooperation,” she said in a press statement on Thursday, 10 February 2022.

She also expressed Indonesian hope regarding the acceleration of negotiations between Indonesia – European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), as currently France holds the presidency of EU Council.

During the meeting, Minister Retno called the attention of the visiting French minister to the discrimination against Indonesian palm oil in Europe. “There should be fair trading, including in palm oil trading,” she said.

Underlining the importance of Indonesia in the region, Minister Parly stated that France is committed to continually strengthening bilateral relations with Indonesia.

Regarding defense cooperation, Retno stated the importance of developing strategic long term cooperation, such as in production of defense equipment, joint exercise, transfer of technology, and  investment in industrial sectors. (*)

Source: KOMPAS.com