"Indonesia and the US are strategic partners in advancing democracy, realizing peace, and pushing for prosperity," he stated while opening a public discussion agenda on the 75th year of Indonesia-US diplomacy in Jakarta on Friday.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released on Saturday, Sugiono highlighted that the general elections that both countries underwent this year reflected the strong commitment of Indonesia and the US to democracy.
He also described Indonesia's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US as exhibiting firm relations and cooperation between the two countries.
Sugiono then highlighted his meeting with his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, on the sidelines of President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Washington, D.C., in November.
He stated that during the visit, the US government declared its support for programs and policy priorities promoted under Prabowo's Asta Cita (Eight Missions).
"Indonesia is ready to strengthen relations between the two countries to fulfill Asta Cita programs, especially in the investment, food and energy resilience, and health and education transformations," Sugiono remarked.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Indonesia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir stated that the US and Indonesia are partners and friends who continue to collaborate on common issues during their 75-year-long diplomatic relations.
"Our partnership is developed by common values and priorities to achieve prosperity and development for our people," Ambassador Lakhdhir affirmed.
On the same occasion, Sugiono, along with Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid and Ambassador Lakhdhir, launched a special commemorative stamp for the 75th anniversary of US-Indonesia diplomatic relations.
Indonesia-US relations were established on December 30, 1949, when H. Merle Cochran, the first US ambassador to Indonesia, presented his credentials to President Soekarno in Jakarta.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, various activities have taken place in parallel in Indonesia and the US to commemorate the 75th year of bilateral relations, including public discussions and an orchestra concert in Jakarta, as well as the Indonesian economic forum and cultural festival in the US.
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Reporter: Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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