Meeting Scott Morrison In Rome, Jokowi Proposes Vaccinated Travel Lane Indonesia-Australia

President Jokowi holds a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister (PM) Scott Morrison in Rome, Italy (ANTARA/HO-Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo started his work agenda in Rome, Italy today by holding a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister (PM), Scott Morrison.

In the meeting which took place at the Splendide Royal Hotel, the two leaders discussed three main issues, ranging from vaccinations, economic recovery to climate change issues.

"For bilateral relations, I am happy to see progress that continues to occur. First, I would like to express my appreciation for Australia's vaccine support for Indonesia, as many as 1.2 million doses of vaccine arrived last week and we welcome the planned arrival of 10.5 million doses of vaccine," said the President. Jokowi as stated in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Saturday, October 30.

According to the President, the current condition of COVID-19 has greatly improved. The positivity rate in Indonesia has reached below 1 percent and more than 185 million vaccines have been injected. "It is no less important that we continue to maintain the health protocols," the President added.

The trend in handling COVID-19 that has improved has opened up space for both countries to start thinking about economic recovery, including in the tourism sector.

Therefore, President Jokowi proposed the establishment of a vaccinated travel lane (VTL) for Indonesia and Australia and cooperation for mutual recognition of vaccine certificates.

"I understand that the two foreign ministers have started to communicate the possibility of cooperation. Hopefully the VTL and the recognition of vaccine certificates can be completed soon. I believe this will accelerate the economic recovery, of course safely," he explained.

Third, President Jokowi wants Indonesia-Australia to continue to cooperate in green economy development and energy transition. According to President Jokowi, the issue of affordable technology and investment plays an important role for the success of economic transformation.

"Therefore, I welcome the Joint Statement on Cooperation on the Green Economy and Energy Transition. The cooperation contained in this joint statement is in line with the spirit of the Indonesian G20 Presidency in 2022," he said.

During the Indonesian Presidency, President Jokowi wants to encourage a number of concrete collaborations in several key sectors, namely digital, energy transition, and financial inclusion. In the digital sector, President Jokowi wants to ensure an inclusive digital transition for growth and development.

In the energy transition sector, the G20 must be able to ensure the availability of low-carbon technologies at affordable prices so that the energy transition can be carried out by all countries. Meanwhile, in the financial inclusion sector, the President specifically emphasized the issue of MSMEs and women.

"I hope Australia's strong support for the three Indonesian proposals. I also hope to be able to personally welcome His Majesty next year at our summit in Bali, 30-31 October 2022," he explained.

Also attending to accompany the President in the bilateral meeting were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.