"One of the biggest challenges is related to climate change, including the rising sea levels," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated after accompanying President Joko Widodo during a bilateral meeting with Nauru President Baron Waqa at the Bogor presidential palace on Friday.
According to Marsudi, the meeting was held in a friendly and open setting, with President Waqa affirming that Nauru has been Indonesia`s partner. President Waqa is on a visit to Indonesia to attend the 10th Bali Democracy Forum held in Banten, West Java, on Thursday (Dec 7).
Maritime resources management and strategy to tackle climate change are important issues for Nauru that is located in the Micronesia region of the Pacific Ocean.
Having a similar geographical situation as Nauru, President Widodo expresses keenness to support Nauru by offering capacity building programs for the community for the management of marine resources.
"Indonesia is an archipelagic country, with thousands of its islands that are also small. Hence, the interests of small countries in the Pacific are our interests as well. In addition, we consider that tackling climate change is the key to survival," Minister Marsudi added.
Meanwhile, President Waqa also invited President Widodo to attend the 50th Anniversary of Nauru`s Independence in January 2018.
Marsudi revealed that President Widodo had urged Coordinating Minister Wiranto Polhukam to attend the event and bring along a business delegation to discuss future economic cooperation between both nations.
Reported by Bayu Prasetyo
Y013/INE/a014
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
