Posted on 20 Jan 2023
Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani has sought South Korea's support for Indonesia's leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2023.
She made the request while receiving a visit from the chairman of the South Korean National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo and a delegation from the South Korean Parliament at the DPR Building.
“President conveyed and I also asked to give support to Indonesia as the chairman of ASEAN in 2023 and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and South Korea stated that they will support and participate in the success of the ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Parliamentary, which will be held this year,” the Speaker said at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta.
The request for support from South Korea for Indonesia's leadership of the ASEAN and AIPA in 2023 was made to maintain peace and harmony in the Korean Peninsula, she added.
“So that the support for Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN is expected to continue to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula,” she said.
During the visit, Maharani expressed the hope that the value of trade between Indonesia and South Korea would increase considering that the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA) began on January 1, 2023.
"In the past year alone, the trade has increased by 40 percent, so it is hoped that the relation between Indonesia and Korea can be closer, increase trade, and both maintain peace,” Maharani said.
After the bilateral meeting, the Indonesian Speaker invited chairman Kim and the South Korean parliamentary delegation to a tour of the Senayan Parliament Building Complex. She also provided them information about the building during the tour, including the history of its construction.
Then, she hosted a luncheon for the chairman and the delegation. Their visit wrapped up with a discussion at the DPR Building on the potential for investment cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea.
Apart from the delegation and members of DPR, the luncheon was also attended by the chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Arsjad Rasjid.
Several business players from Indonesia and a number of CEOs of state-owned enterprises (BUMN) also joined the luncheon, including president director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra; president director of PT Antam, Nicolas D. Kanter; and president director of PT Krakatau Steel, Purwono Widodo.
Maharani said she hopes that the meeting between the leaders of the Indonesian business world and the South Korean Parliament would contribute to the development of economic relations between the two countries.
She further observed that the future relations between Indonesia and South Korea will be determined by close cooperation in economy, trade, and investment.
"I hope that the economic relations between the two countries will not only be used by big companies. We have to make sure that this is beneficial for small, medium companies, the people of the two countries, can create jobs, and improve the welfare of the people of both countries," said Maharani.
It is hoped that the official visit of the South Korean parliamentary delegation to the Indonesian Parliament would strengthen friendly relations between the two countries, which already have close bilateral relations, especially in relations between citizens, she added.
Maharani further said she hopes that the friendship between Indonesia and South Korea that has been built so far can bring positive and tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Moreover, she added, 2023 will mark the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and South Korea, which began in 1973.
"For some of Indonesia's younger generation, Korean culture has its own place through the popularity of Korean cultures such as K-pop songs, movies, and Korean food. This is certainly a challenge for Indonesia to introduce its potential, cultural diversity, and products better to the Korean people," she said.
Meanwhile, Kim expressed his appreciation to Maharani for warmly welcoming the delegation from the South Korean National Assembly and thanked her and the Indonesian Parliament for organizing the meeting with Indonesian business representatives.
"It is a pleasure to meet the CEOs of Indonesian companies who have made many investment partnerships with South Korea," he added.
He further said he believes that the cooperative relationship between the South Korean Parliament and the Indonesian Parliament will increase in the future.
"I am sure that under the leadership of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ms. Puan Maharani, relations between South Korea and Indonesia will be even closer," he added.
Source:ANTARA
