Jokowi Meets Chile President in Jakarta
Jakarta. Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet in Jakarta on Friday (12/05) during a bilateral meeting to strengthen cooperation in agricultural, fishery and strategic industries.
Bachelet arrived in Indonesia on Thursday for a two-day visit. She will meet local government officials, attend a Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) seminar on Indonesia-Chile relations and visit the secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Jakarta.
"We hope to conclude negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement [CEPA], especially on trade and goods, this year," Jokowi said in a statement released by his cabinet secretary on Friday.
Chile is seen by many Indonesian businesses as a potential stepping stone for their products to enter the South American market.
Indonesia is trying to diversify its export market beyond its traditional markets of the United States, Europe and China. Lately it has been lobbying for more access to the huge South American market.
Chile is Indonesia's third-largest trade partner in South America, with total trade between the two countries valued at $227 million last year.
"We have agreed that bilateral cooperation [between Indonesia and Chile] will focus on these sectors: fisheries, strategic industries and agriculture," Jokowi said in the statement.
Jokowi and Bachelet also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation and an agreement on visa waivers for diplomatic passport holders.
Jokowi said Chile has expressed support for Indonesia's lobby to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2019-2020 period.
Indonesia had given similar support when Chile was campaigning to become a non-permanent member of the security council in 2014-2015.
Indonesia and Chile are members of several world forums, including the Non-Aligned Movement, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).
"The memorandums of understanding we just signed will strengthen relations between Indonesia and Chile," Jokowi said.
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