Foreign Minister Retno: Business Trips And Chinese Officials To Indonesia Don't Need Independent Quarantine

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government and the Chinese government on Thursday, August 20 agreed on an essential travel corridor arrangement for important business and business needs between the two countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Indonesia and China have agreed on an essential business travel corridor arrangement, which regulates essential business travel and urgent official travel in a safe manner," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi after attending a bilateral meeting with the Chinese Government in Sanya City, Hainan, China, quoted from Antara, Friday August 21.

During the meeting, the Indonesian delegation was represented by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises as well as the Chief Executive of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery, Erick Thohir. Meanwhile, the Chinese delegation was chaired by the State Counselor and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"The travel corridor with China that we launched today is valid after being launched immediately," said Retno.

On that occasion, he said the travel corridor agreement with China was the third agreement signed by the Indonesian Government with other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The first agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on July 29, 2020, and the second with South Korea is effective from August 17, 2020," added Retno.

This travel corridor agreement provides flexibility for travelers not to self-quarantine for 14 days. This agreement puts forward strict health protocols and is carried out with great care so that it does not threaten the management of the spread of COVID-19 in both countries.

Travel corridor arrangements will be applied from visa granting to medical protocols before and after arrival. This includes the PCR test.

As is well known, China has become one of the largest investor countries for Indonesia, ranking second after Singapore. Chinese investment in Indonesia increased 9 percent in the first semester of 2020, namely to US $ 2.4 billion from 2.2 billion in the first semester of 2019.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Siregar said last month that discussions regarding opening a travel route or travel corridor with other countries still prioritized visits by foreign officials, diplomats, and important business players.

On the same occasion, he emphasized that tourist visits have not become a priority for opening a travel corridor in Indonesia with other countries.

Apart from the UAE, South Korea and China, Indonesia also proposes a travel corridor for important business trips with member countries of the Association of Nations in Southeast Asia (ASEAN).

The proposal was submitted by President Joko Widodo at the 36th ASEAN Summit (Summit) to be held virtually on June 26, 2020. According to President Jokowi, the ASEAN travel corridor can help accelerate economic recovery in a region that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.