Indonesia-Afghanistan Cooperation to Focus on Reconciliation, Capacity Building, Trade
[This article was updated on Thursday (06/04) at 6:00 p.m. to add a statement from President Joko Widodo]
Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Afghanistan during a state meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday (06/04).
Indonesia and Afghanistan will focus on increasing bilateral cooperation in peace-building, capacity-building, as well as trade and investment.
"Indonesia welcomes Afghan government's efforts to create stability and peace, and is ready to share its experience in peace-building and reconciliation," Jokowi said at a press conference with Ghani.
"Indonesia is a symbol of hope. Indonesia is a symbol of success, and has a history of good leadership in politics and culture," Ghani said.
Indonesia has already contributed to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan through dozens of capacity-building training programs.
The two countries will now join hands in counter-terrorism and combating human-trafficking.
In Central Asia, Afghanistan is Indonesia's main export destination and its second biggest trade partner, after Iran.
To encourage direct interaction between Indonesian and Afghan business leaders, a bilateral meeting will take place on Thursday.
The Afghan delegation and their Indonesian counterparts signed several memoranda of understanding covering a host of areas, including education, agriculture and public administration reforms.
"We have agreed to broaden our cooperation in capacity-building in legal affairs, housing, public works, fiscal policy and higher education," Jokowi said.
On Thursday, the Afghan leader will also meet with scholars from various Muslim organizations at the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta.
After Indonesia, where he is making the first state visit, Ghani will go to Australia and Singapore.
Watch Indonesia Highlights at 8 p.m. tonight on the Jakarta Globe News Channel and Facebook Live to find out more about President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani's meeting in Jakarta.
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