"I am here to meet with the Indonesian Vice President to hold a discussion on how to develop cooperation in the field of national security. Indonesia and Australia share the same views and are worried about the mushrooming of radical organizations in the Middle East," Keenan said after a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday evening.
As the two countries have the same interests in fighting against terrorism, they should establish strong cooperation in preventing radicalism from entering the two nations, he said.
"It would be better if the two countries shared these experiences. We face the same challenges. Our country supports any effort made by Indonesia to thwart terrorism," he said.
The Australian government also praised Indonesia for being able to preserve solidarity and tolerance among adherents of different faiths in the worlds largest Muslim country, he said.
While in Indonesia, Keenan also held meetings with the State Intelligence Board (BIN), the National Police (Polri) and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said both countries needed to exchange information to cooperate in the fight against terrorism.
"So it is about how Indonesia maintains the cooperation. Indonesia is moderate and different from other countries which have many radical groups. Admittedly, Indonesia also has (radical groups), but they are not dominant," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
