REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SYDNEY -- Indonesia and Australia have agreed to improve maritime cooperation. The agreement was decided during a meeting between both foreign ministers and minister of defense in Sydney, Australia, Monday (21/12).
"2+2 meeting between Indonesia and Australia is to boost maritime cooperation and is expected to become an embryo to enhance cooperation at the regional level such as the East Asia Summit (EAS)," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, at the third meeting of 2+2 meeting in Sydney, Australia, Monday (21/12).
Retno and Indonesian Defense Minister, Ryamizard Ryacudu, has held the Third Indonesia-Australia Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting (2+2 Dialogue) with partners from Australia, namely Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne.
Maritime cooperation to be enhanced included sustainable development of maritime sector, maritime security, connectivity, science and technology cooperation, and handling of transnational crimes such as illegal fishing. The meeting also discussed maritime cooperation in Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
The ministers agreed to support Indonesia's efforts to encourage IORA maritime cooperation through the establishment of IORA Concord. In addition to maritime issues, 2+2 meeting also discussed various strategic issues such as tackling extremism and terrorism, security and stability of the region including in the South China Sea, and irregular migrants.
Related to the issue of extremism and terrorism, the two countries agreed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorism and cross-border crime, including foreign terrorists, cyber-crime and intelligence cooperation.
"This move is expected to anticipate the growth of radicalism and extremism in various countries," she added.
2+2 meeting also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Combating International Terrorism by Head of National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) and Secretary General of Australian DFAT. The MoU was about intelligence cooperation and capacity building among institutions in the fight against extremism and terrorism.
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