During a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp in The Hague on February 21, Sugiono reaffirmed the Netherlands' position as Indonesia’s most important partner in Europe.
"As a key partner in the European Union, Indonesia hopes to continue strengthening its comprehensive partnership with the Netherlands," Sugiono said in a statement issued on Sunday.
He outlined Indonesia’s priority programs, including food security and energy transition, and invited the Netherlands to participate in and support these strategic initiatives.
Sugiono also highlighted potential cooperation to enhance the productivity of Indonesian fishermen.
In response, Schoof and Veldkamp expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation to support Indonesia’s priority programs, including food security and free nutritious meals.
Schoof also emphasized the need for Indonesia and the Netherlands to serve as a bridge between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Regarding the Indonesia-Netherlands Comprehensive Partnership, Sugiono and Veldkamp agreed to evaluate the Plan of Action for its implementation, which is set to conclude in December 2025, and to formulate future strategies.
In addition to bilateral issues, the two foreign ministers discussed key regional matters, including the situations in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and BRICS.
Sugiono also urged EU countries to expand their presence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the economic sector, to promote balance and prosperity in the region.
Regarding Indonesia's membership in BRICS, Sugiono expressed Indonesia's aspiration to act as a bridge between developing and developed countries, as well as between BRICS and Southeast Asia.
After visiting the Netherlands, Sugiono will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the High-Level Meeting of the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament.
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Translator: Asri Mayang Sari, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Anton Santoso
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