Visiting Indonesian president Joko Widodo expressed such a hope during a meeting with his South Korea counterpart, Park Geun Hye, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and received here on Monday.
President Joko Widodo is currently in Seoul, South Korea, for a two-day visit during which he was to meet President Park Geun Hye and has several meetings scheduled with business circles in the form of a Business Meeting, a Business Luncheon and one-on-one meetings.
During the meeting with President Park, he also expressed the hope that South Korea could become Indonesias partner in developing the countrys creative industry, including digital economy.
President Joko Widodo also hoped South Korea would increase the value of trade with and investment in Indonesia as well as ease transfer of technology.
The two leaders also discussed maritime and defense cooperation in the meeting.
President Jokowi, as he is also called, agreed with President Park for more cooperation in tourism and better contacts between the peoples of the two countries.
Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders also talked about regional and multilateral issues, including South Korean Peninsula and South China Sea as well as counter-terrorism efforts.
President Jokowi also discussed how to cooperate better in the dispatch of migrant workers. On this occasion, he also expressed thanks to his counterpart for the protection that South Korea extends to the Indonesian citizens and workers there.
Around 34,000 Indonesian workers are at present recorded working in South Korea, including more than 4,000 who work as boat crew members.
Several memorandums of understanding will be signed during President Jokowis visit to South Korea, covering creative industry, peat land restoration, sporting cooperation, anti-corruption fight, maritime and defense.
South Korea became Indonesias strategic partner on December 4, 2006 following the signing of the "Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership to Promote Friendship and Cooperation in the 21st Century."
The value of trade between the two countries reached US$16.7 billion in 2015 and Indonesias exports to South Korea include coal, nickel, copper, tin, pulp, natural rubber, plywood and footwear.
From South Korea, Indonesia imports wireless communication equipment, motor vehicles, computers, iron, ships, petrochemicals, textile and garments.
South Koreas investment in Indonesia was recorded at $1.21 billion in 2015 to make it the fifth biggest investor in the country with a total of 2,329 projects in infrastructure, manufacturing, information and communication technology and maritime sectors.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
