President Jokowi Discusses World Situation With European Council President Charles Michel

Indonesian President Joko Widodo holds a bilateral meeting with European Council President Charles Michel, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in La Nuvola, Rome, Italy, Sunday, October 31 (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) discussed several world political issues, including developments in Afghanistan, during a bilateral meeting with European Council President Charles Michel, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in La Nuvola, Rome, Italy, Sunday.

As reported by Antara, Sunday, October 31, based on information shared by the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat, President Jokowi explained the efforts that Indonesia was making to try to help Afghanistan.

President Michel assessed that, as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has a good experience with Afghanistan.

Second, President Jokowi also discussed the issue of climate change and conveyed the efforts made by Indonesia in terms of reducing deforestation, forest fires, and mangrove rehabilitation.

President Jokowi is of the view that when discussing the issue of climate change, all countries must work together and not blame each other so that all countries have the ability to make economic transitions and energy transitions.

"Technology and investment are the keys. This is not possible without cooperation, including with developed countries," he also said.

In this regard, President Jokowi emphasized that Indonesia's commitment is very clear and consistent. The fulfillment of Indonesia's nationally determined contributions or NDC is on the right track.

At a time when many countries are still experiencing severe forest fires, forest fires in Indonesia have decreased by 82 percent.

"Deforestation has the lowest rate in 20 years. Mangrove rehabilitation will reach 600,000 hectares in 3 years," said President Jokowi.

In addition, President Jokowi also discussed health issues, including the world's plan to discuss the Pandemic Treaty. In discussing health issues, Indonesia expressed concern about discrimination against several types of vaccines carried out by the European Union.

Briefly, the President also encouraged that the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Indonesia and the European Union or IEU-CEPA could be concluded immediately. Moreover, negotiations related to this have been going on for more than five years.

"I really hope that the Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiations can be completed. These negotiations have taken more than five years. With the character of complementary products, I believe this CEPA will bring great benefits to us," said President Jokowi.

Also accompanying the President in the bilateral meeting was Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto and Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.