REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met Papua New Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbink Pato on Thursday to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues of mutual concern. The bilateral meeting between the two ministers took place at Pancasila building in the vicinity of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in Jakarta.
"This evening, I had the honor of receiving a visit from my close friend Pato," Marsudi said in Jakarta on Thursday.
At the meeting, Marsudi stated that the relations between the two neighboring countries were built based on the principles of mutual benefit and mutual respect, including respecting the integrity of each other's territory.
"We appreciate Papua New Guinea, which always respects the integrity of the Indonesian territory. On the other hand, Indonesia will always respect the integrity of Papua New Guinea's territory," she remarked.
Indonesia and Papua New Guinea have established comprehensive partnership. They also have taken active part in various international forums, particularly regional forums for Asian and Pacific countries, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF).
Indonesia has also expressed its support for Papua New Guinea's wish to host APEC meeting this year through capacity building, protocol assistance, and security management.
Touching on the economic cooperation between the two countries, Marsudi warmly welcomed an increase in their bilateral trade from US$179.2 million in 2016 to $208.89 million in 2017. She further noted that an Indonesian business delegation will visit Papua New Guinea in September 2018.
"We also have invited Papua New Guinean businessmen to attend the Trade Expo Indonesia in October 2018," she added.
She also invited Pato to attend Our Ocean Conference scheduled from Oct 29 to 30 and the Bali Democracy Forum, of which Indonesia will be host.
Meanwhile, Pato remarked that his government warmly welcomed the invitation. "I have received an invitation to attend Our Ocean Conference and Bali Democracy Forum, for which we will be present. We have never rejected any invitation from Indonesia," he concluded.
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