Indonesia And Thailand Exchange Information About Plans To Turn A Pandemic Into An Endemic

Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani and Chair of the Royal Thai Senate Pornpetch Wichitchonlachai at the IPU, Bali, Wednesday 23 March. (Between)

BALI - Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani and Chair of the Royal Thai Senate Pornpetch Wichitchonlachai met on the sidelines of the 144th Assembly Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Bali, Wednesday, March 23.

The two exchanged information regarding plans to change the status of the COVID-19 pandemic to endemic in their respective countries. Puan and Pornpetch agree that the change from a pandemic to an endemic must be well prepared.

"A number of adjustments have now been made by Indonesia. The DPR RI is also monitoring the government's efforts to prepare a roadmap (road map, ed.) in order to get to an endemic situation," said Puan sharing the results of her discussion with Wichitchonlachai.

During the meeting, they also shared experiences regarding the recovery of the tourism sector in their respective countries considering it is one of the main sources of foreign exchange for the two countries. "I encourage cooperation between the two countries in the context of revitalizing tourism," said Puan.

In addition to tourism, he also encourages increased trade and investment cooperation. Therefore, he welcomed the step of the Thai National Assembly which approved a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation to establish the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group between Indonesia and Thailand.

She said that the DPR is currently still reviewing the MoU and the draft will be finalized in the near future.

On the sidelines of the IPU's 144th Assembly Session, Puan also held a bilateral meeting with the Chair of the Kuwaiti DPR, Marzouq Ali Al Ghanim. Puan, in the meeting, supported the policy of empowering women in Kuwait.

"We see women's empowerment as a major contribution to peace, democracy and human rights, and the handling of COVID-19," said Puan.

However, both parties agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic hampered several programs so that there were goals that had not been achieved. “This is a common challenge for us that must continue to be a concern. Cooperation between countries, including through parliament, will help overcome these challenges," she said.

On the same day, he also met the Speaker of the Timor Leste Parliament, Ancieto Longuinhos.

Puan and Longuinhos discussed border negotiations which have not been completed to date. "We ask for support from Timor Leste (Parliament) to accelerate the completion of the determination of land borders in the Noel Besi-Citrana segment and the Bijael Sunan-Oben segment," said Puan.

In the meeting with Timor Leste, Puan also reiterated Indonesia's support for Timor Leste's full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.