"Indonesia welcomes positively the result of the democratic US presidential election and hopes for closer relations with the US under the leadership of President Donald Trump," Novanto said after he received a courtesy call from acting US Ambassador to Indonesia, Brian McFeeters, here on Thursday.
Novanto added that the Donald Trump administration could continue the Indonesia-US comprehensive partnership launched in 2010 and re-strengthened when Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the US in October 2015.
The US is an important trade partner of Indonesia, with Indonesian exports to the US reaching US$16.24 billion last year, he disclosed.
"The exports mostly comprised non-oil/non-gas commodities valued at around US$15.03 billion. The US remains the main market for Indonesias non-oil/non-gas exports," he informed.
Although many were worried when Donald Trump won the US presidential election, Novanto claimed he remained optimistic that the good relations between the two countries would not be affected under the leadership of the president elect.
"We are confident that the US under the leadership of Donald Trump will continue to maintain its good relations with Indonesia," he said.
He emphasized that the success of Indonesia as the worlds largest Muslim country in creating a relatively stable democracy can be seen by the Trump administration as a "soft power" which inspires the world.
In this regard, the US and Indonesia as the worlds second and third largest democratic countries, could collaborate in promoting peace in the world.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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