Indonesia and Kazakhstan Agree to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation
Jakarta. Indonesia and Kazakhstan agreed to increase cooperation during their first bilateral consultation meeting in Jakarta on Friday (16/06).
The meeting, led by Desra Percaya, director general for Asia Pacific and Africa at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov, resulted in an agreement between the two countries to boost cooperation in various areas, including counterterrorism, trade and education.
"Both sides have agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of counterterrorism, drug-trafficking [prevention], law, trade, investment, health, education and culture," Desra said, as quoted in a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry.
"Kazakhstan envisions itself to become a center for Islamic finance and halal industry in Central Asia," Kamaldinov said, adding that his country seeks to learn from Indonesia on these matters.
Kamaldinov also invited Indonesian business leaders to cooperate with their counterparts in Kazakhstan to develop the Central Asian country's pharmaceutical industry.
Indonesia and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1993. The former Soviet republic has played an important role regionally and globally, particularly as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2017-2018 period.
Kamaldinov also paid a visit to Vice President Jusuf Kalla in his capacity as Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's special envoy.
During the meeting, Kamaldinov presented an official invitation for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to attend the first Science and Technology Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Sept. 10-11.
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