I hope this dialogue can help strengthen the bilateral relationship."
Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - The third Indonesia-Australia Dialogue is expected to come up with a set of comprehensive recommendations for the government to strengthen relations between two countries.

"I hope this dialogue can help strengthen the bilateral relationship," Indonesias Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said here on Tuesday.

Marsudi remarked that the dialogue could provide alternative inputs as discussions were held in an open and transparent fashion.

The discussion is divided into four parts, each focused on a specific area, namely, business, education and research, media and social and cultural domains.

"Each member of the group is well qualified in his or her field. They can examine the current geopolitical situation in the world," the minister stated.

The meeting was expected to result in improved bilateral relations.

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia John Anderson expected that the dialogue could focus on improving cooperation and maximizing the understanding between two countries.

The talk was expected to generate new ideas in the context of strengthening the relationship between Indonesia and Australia, he affirmed.

"An improved understanding is important for young generations of the two countries as successors," he added.

The Chairman of the third Indonesia-Australia Dialogue from Indonesia, Hamzah Thayeb, said the discourse was different from the formal dialogue at the level of governments of both countries.

"The dialogue that brings together representatives from the grassroots level can avoid any constraints (of government to government talks)," Thayeb stressed.

The third Indonesia-Australia Dialogue witnessed participation of 19 delegates from Australia and Indonesia.

"The talks will result in a number of recommendations that will be submitted to the governments of both countries," Thayeb noted.

"The most important part is whether the recommendations can be implemented properly," Thayeb emphasized.

The Indonesia-Australia Dialogue Forum in Yogyakarta was organized by the governments of Indonesia and Australia on August 29-30, 2016.

The 2016 Indonesia-Australia Dialogue Forum will be attended by 20 participants from the two countries. The participants from Indonesia include rectors of prominent universities, fashion designers, the deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I, and media persons.

Meanwhile, participants from Australia include academics and businessmen as well as the former Australian ambassador to Indonesia.
(UU.A063/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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