The Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs Talks About The Importance Of A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership With Indonesia

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary of State of the United States for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma highlighted the importance of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for improving relations between Indonesia and the US in the future.

"I think this is something very special, and I think it represents our important position in this relationship," Richard said at the "An Open Dialogue on the US in the Indo-Pacific" event in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, February 1.

Richard said the relationship between Indonesia and the US had been going on for decades and entered its 75th year.

Relations between the two countries are built based on shared values in terms of democracy, inclusiveness, diversity, joint efforts in resolving disputes peacefully and ideas about the need to live in a peaceful world.

"So, we are bound together by the shared values that the two nations have," he said.

This strong relationship can be seen from the large number of Indonesian students in the US, and in other exchange programs between Indonesia and the US.

"This relationship is also reflected in various collaborations that have been achieved between Indonesia and the US in various fields," he continued.

Richard gave an example of the strong relations between the two countries in the defense sector as reflected in the recent meeting between the defense ministers of the two countries.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the need to deepen cooperation in the defense sector. Then, Richard also mentioned the important role of the US as a training and training provider in the defense sector.

"We will also do more to raise awareness about maritime and awareness of what is going on around us to build capabilities and deepen partnerships," he said.

In the economic sector, Richard noted the value of two-way trade between Indonesia and the US which reached around 47 billion US dollars (around Rp739.8 trillion) last year.

Richard assessed that the trade figure could be much higher considering the position of the US as the country with the third largest population and Indonesia as the fourth largest population.

"It's up to us to talk about what we can do from a trade point of view and to get rid of even further obstacles and create more economic opportunities," saidRichard.

Regarding climate change, the two countries, he said, continue to work together to curb a higher temperature increase around the world that could create supply collapse, climate and clean energy.

"We can develop (the cooperation) and adapt and see where we need to take it from there. However, that's what I think about the meaning of a comprehensive strategic partnership," said Richard.