Indonesia, Fiji Strengthen Relations on Trade, Security
Jakarta. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Tuesday (14/03) met with Fiji Defense Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries, which include trade and cooperation between police forces.
"Indonesia is committed to work together with Melanesian countries, especially to increase capacity in regards to police forces," foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Arrmanatha added that Indonesia also hopes to increase its role in infrastructure development in the Pacific.
The spokesman did not elaborate on what kind of trade partnerships will be implemented between Indonesia and Fiji.
Kubuabola was visiting Jakarta to attend a meeting of police commissioners and ministers from the Melanesian Spearhead Group, or MSG.
Indonesia is hosting this year’s gathering as an associate member country of the MSG. The meeting aims to help develop closer ties between regional police forces to prevent and combat transnational crimes.
To achieve this, Indonesia is strengthening security cooperation by assisting MSG member countries in creating a curriculum that will be used at a proposed MSG regional police academy initiative, according to a report by local news outlet Kompas.
As MSG countries seek to increase their contribution through United Nations operations around the world, Indonesia will also be helping MSG countries to establish units akin to Indonesia’s Formed Police Unit (FPU).
National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said during the meeting that partnerships between law enforcement agencies in Asia Pacific countries should improve in the coming years.
The meeting's agenda include discussions on transnational crimes, such as terrorism and human trafficking.
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