Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK Dominic Raab (L) and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: EPA)He met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi todiscuss the UK – Indonesia trade partnership, valued 3.75 billion USD eachyear.
The two foreign ministers clinched a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) onanti-terrorism cooperation.
According to Marsudi, both sides agreed to boost collaboration acrosshealthcare, enhance defence cooperation, and speed up economic recovery byadding ten cooperative priorities, including wood and agricultural products.
A MoU on the UK – Indonesia inter-committee on economy and trade will be signedon April 7 to intensify the implementation of those cooperative priorities.
In an official announcement on April 7, Marsudi said she voiced Indonesia’sconcern over the UK’s new bill, which requires accountability of severalagricultural products such as palm oil, cocoa and rubber, expressing her hopethat both nation can work together to surmount the issue.
They also discussed international issues.
Raab also met with ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi as the UK wants toenhance relations with this regional bloc.
Following the Indonesia visit, Raab is scheduled to visit Brunei to attendseveral high-level meetings on April 8, discussing trade, climate change andsecurity issues.
He will pay a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Brunei before meeting withForeign Minister Dato Erywan.
The UK wants to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in which Brunei and many other ASEAN statesare members.
He will also attend the second UK – ASEAN ministerial dialogue before returningLondon.
The UK sees the Indo-Pacific significant in its foreign strategy./.
VNA
