"Especially in facing climate change, blue economy, good maritime governance, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Jokowi stated at a bilateral meeting with Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina during the First High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the AIS Forum here on Wednesday.
The high-level meeting, themed "Fostering Collaboration, Enabling Innovation for Our Ocean and Our Future," was held on October 10-11 in Bali where Indonesia invited its fellow island and archipelagic countries to share their struggles in facing global issues, including climate change.
AIS participating countries also agreed to uphold the principles of solidarity, equality, and mutually beneficial cooperation as well as encourage the Global South, or developing countries inhabiting the southern part of the planet.
According to a statement released by the Presidential Secretariat, President Simina expressed his appreciation for Indonesia's invitation to Micronesia to attend the summit.
"I personally want to congratulate on the success of the AIS High-Level Meeting,” he remarked.
Simina highlighted that Micronesia and Indonesia have several similarities. He remarked that Micronesia was drawn to attend the event on account of the several similarities.
"When I received the invitation, I, without hesitation, accepted it because I wanted to join you in the field of marine protection," he stated.
Furthermore, he welcomed the achievements at the summit, including the agreed priority working areas in the leaders' declaration document.
The declaration, agreed by 32 AIS participating countries, covers four focus areas: climate change and its mitigation, blue economy and ecotourism, waste handling in oceans, and good maritime governance.
"Federated States of Micronesia welcomes the good development in the AIS Forum and appreciates the four ocean-focused pillars in the AIS Declaration," he stated.
During the bilateral meeting, the president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, among others.
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Translator: Yashinta P, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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