President Joko Widodo stressed on the strengthening of cooperation in the Pacific during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) in Badung, Bali, on Wednesday.
The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the 1st High-Level Meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum.
"Strengthening cooperation is important as one Pacific family in facing common challenges," said President Widodo in a written statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He emphasized that the cooperation must be based on the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.
"Including sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are very important for realizing the Indo-Pacific as a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region," he said.
He further said that Indonesia has voiced the aspirations of the Pacific countries at several forums, including during its chairmanship of ASEAN and presidency of G20.
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He also expressed his gratitude for the presence of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu at the AIS Forum High-Level Meeting.
President Widodo said he considers the AIS meeting an important occasion for building solidarity among archipelago and island countries.
"Thank you for your presence, and the AIS Forum is an important momentum to build solidarity among archipelago and island countries through concrete collaboration and inclusive cooperation," he added.
Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi; Minister of State Secretary, Pratikno; director general of Asia-Pacific and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Kadir Jailani; and director of the Pacific and Oceania at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adi Dzulfuat, accompanied President Widodo at the bilateral meeting.
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Editor : Mahdani
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