Jakarta – In a sign of intensified relations between the two nations, Indonesia and the United States will sign two agreements during US Secretary of State's visit to Jakarta, a minister has said.
"Besides discussing several issues,Indonesia and the US will also sign two memorandum of understandings (MoUs) in two fields," said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Thursday.
One of the agreements centers on the South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation. "The MoUs reflect cooperation involving Indonesia and the US that are aimed at offering partnerships to the third countries in an effort to increase their capacities in certain fields, such as development, democracy and human rights," said Marty.
The second agreement focuses on wildlife conservation and the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. "Illegal wildlife trafficking is a serious problem that has become our common concern; therefore, during Secretary of State Kerry's visit, we will sign an MoU in that area," said Marty.
Kerry will visit Indonesia from Feb. 15 until Feb. 17. The two ministers will co-chair the Joint Commission Meeting under the US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership. The US-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, under the auspices of which the two ministers will chair the Joint Commission meeting, was established in 2010.
"Comprehensive means that Indonesia-US relations cover a wide range of fields, comprising politics, economy, security and socio culture," Marty said.
During the forum, Kerry and Marty will review progress of bilateral cooperation from six working groups on security, trade and investment, climate change and the environment, education, energy and democracy and civil society. Kerry last visited Indonesia to attend the APEC Summit in Bali.
Besides bilateral issues, the two are expected to discuss regional and international issues, including issues regarding territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and East China Sea. "These have been the topics of discussion in bilateral meetings, not only with the US but also with other countries,and in other frameworks such as ASEAN, and the East Asia Summit," Marty said.
We had always highlighted the need for peaceful solutions to every conflict, through dialogue and in respect of international law. This was always the principle element among ASEAN countries through the six-point principle, Marty added.
Kerry arrived in Seoul on Thursday for discussions on North Korea's nuclear program, a day after high-level inter-Korean talks failed to resolve a row over looming South Korea-US military drills. South Korea was Kerry's first stop on his Asian tour, which also includes China.
As well as discussing efforts to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, Kerry will be briefed in Seoul on a diplomatic initiative that saw the two Koreas sit down on Wednesday for their highest-level official talks since 2007.
In Beijing, Kerry will encourage China to "use its unique set of ties and leverage" to pressure Pyongyang to prove it is serious about wanting to restart the six-party process, a US State Department official has said.
Kerry believes "the North Korean nuclear threat is not a problem that we can all admire from a distance," the official added as quoted by Agence France-Presse.
Kerry's visit comes ahead of an Asian tour in April by President Barack Obama, which will take him to Japan and South Korea. The US has also repeatedly called for the isolated North to release Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary who was sentenced to 15 years' of hard labor last year on sedition charges. (ebf)