REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla held a meeting with First Vice President of the European Union Commission Frans Timmermans at the Berlaymont Building in Brussels, Belgium. The two leaders discussed economic cooperation between Indonesia and the EU.

"We and the EU discussed economic relations, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and other trade issues including palm oil trade, and other related issues," Kalla said on Thursday night after attending the opening of 12th Summit Meeting of ASEM in Brussels.

Kalla met Timmermans and talked with the EU leader for 30 minutes. "What is clear here is Indonesia needs Europe and Europe also needs Indonesia," Kalla said in a press release received here on Friday.

Under the present situation with the global economic uncertainty, Asia and Europe must cooperate, he said.

"The United States is difficult to predict, uncertainty, too many stipulations. Therefore, relations between Europe and Asia must be better," he said.

Later Kalla was visited by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipars discussing similar issue. Kalla was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammad Fachir and head of the Vice Presidential Secretariat Muhammad Oemar. The Indonesian government hoped that the Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiations would be wrapped up in the first half of 2019.

On Friday, IEU CEPA ended its sixth round of negotiations in Palembang (from Oct 15-19). Indonesian delegation was headed by Director General of International Trade Negotiation of the Trade Ministry Iman Pambagyo.The EU delegation was led by Deputy Director General of Trade of the EU Commission Helena Konig.

Also read: Kalla attends Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels

Iman said the negotiation is one of the most ambitious and comprehensive for Indonesia. "It is a priority considering the large economy and market of Europe and potential cooperation that could be developed between the two sides," he said.

Penetration of the market of 516 million people with high purchasing power, would greatly benefit Indonesia, he said. "We are confident comprehensive economic partnership with Europe would jack up Indonesian economic growth and open new much need jobs," he said.

He said currently the world is facing global challenge with shifting of view of trade between big nations and Indonesia and Europe want transparency through collaboration especially local business players need and are looking for new market.

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