Jokowi-Wang Discuss Market Access to Agricultural Cooperation

When receiving Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the President discussed market access for Indonesian products to agriculture.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi waved his hand as he arrived at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024). President Joko Widodo welcomed Wang Yi's visit in a state visit at the Merdeka Palace.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Receiving honorary visit Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (18/4/2024 ), President Joko Widodo called for mutually beneficial economic cooperation, starting from market access for Indonesian products to investment.

President Jokowi emphasized the importance of mutually beneficial economic cooperation. In the trade sector, for example, although trade volume continues to increase and is more balanced, it is hoped that there will still be more open market access for Indonesian products to China. One of them, protocols for imported products, both Indonesian agricultural and fishery products, need to be completed.

President Jokowi's hopes were conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi after accompanying President Jokowi to receive Wang Yi and the four members of his delegation. At the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung were also present. Wang Yi was accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lu Kang, Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Deputy Director General of the Information Department Mao Ning, Deputy Director General of the Asian Affairs Department Liang Jianjun, and Second Secretary of the Asian Affairs Department Li Jibin.

Also read: President Jokowi-Foreign Minister Wang Yi Discuss the Need for Middle East De-escalation

Wang Yi himself did not provide information to journalists at the Palace. He just waved to journalists when he arrived at the Presidential Palace Complex, saying, "Nice weather." He also waved after the meeting.

'Nice weather' (nice weather).

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi waves goodbye after meeting with President Joko Widodo at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (18/4/2024).

Previously, Wang Yi held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Retno at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' office. From the Palace, Wang Yi is also scheduled to meet Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who is also the candidate with the most votes in the 2024 Presidential Election according to the KPU's vote counting.

Wang Yi will also attend a high-level dialogue related to the cooperation mechanism (HDCM) in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. This event was led by Foreign Minister Retno and Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan from the Indonesian side, while from the Chinese side it was led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In this meeting, continued Retno, the issue of the fast train project will be discussed further.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi provided a statement to journalists after accompanying President Joko Widodo in receiving a courtesy visit from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024).

Follow-up

The acceleration of market access for Indonesian products is also a follow-up to President Jokowi's visit to Beijing and meeting with President Xi Jinping on October 17, 2023. At that time, several memorandums of understanding were signed, such as protocols on requirements, quarantine inspections, and veterinary sanitation for wild aquatic products to be exported from Indonesia to China, and protocols on quarantine requirements and cleanliness of edible aquatic animals from Indonesia to China.

"Mr President also encouraged the implementation of strategic projects in the North Kalimantan industrial area, especially for investment in the petrochemical sector."

Apart from that, President Jokowi encouraged development cooperation in the Indonesian Capital City (IKN), including for modes of transportation. The President also discussed the issue of the Jakarta-Bandung fast train and encouraged technology transfer. Moreover, the extension of the route to Surabaya still requires accelerated completion of the feasibility study.

"The President also encourages the implementation of strategic projects in the industrial area of North Kalimantan, particularly for investment in the petrochemical sector," said Retno.

Also read: Chinese Foreign Minister Visits Indonesia, Strengthens Cooperation with Developing Countries

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi provided a statement to journalists after accompanying President Joko Widodo in receiving a courtesy visit from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024).

President Jokowi also discussed food security with Wang Yi. Food security is very important. Therefore, cooperation between the two countries in agriculture is important to be improved, including specifically for rice, horticulture, and also durian, with one of them studying China's farming model.