REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- United States Vice President Michael Pence has come at the right time to witness Indonesian democracy after the peaceful regional elections, Vice President Jusuf Kalla remarked here on Thursday.

"I told him that he has come at the right time after the peaceful regional elections. We shook hands, and there was no fuss. That's democracy in Indonesia," Kalla stated.

He made the statement when asked about the results of his bilateral meeting with his American counterpart on tolerance and moderate Islam in Indonesia.

Kalla noted that Indonesia and the United States agreed to strengthen cooperation to enhance the values of tolerance and moderate Islam.

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Besides discussing social and religious affairs, Kalla and Pence also discussed strategic cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, maritime, counter-terrorism, and US commitment to the stability of Asia-Pacific region, particularly Southeast Asia.

Cooperation in the fields of economy and energy was the main topic discussed at the bilateral meeting.

Economy and energy, among others, are important cooperation sectors within the framework of strategic partnership with the United States.

The other ministers who accompanied Kalla to the bilateral meeting with Pence include Coordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Panjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, and Capital Investment Coordinating Board Head Thomas Lembong. 

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