Developing cultural ties and people-to-people contact is vital to create a conducive atmosphere for building economic relations, she said in an emailed message made available to Antara on Thursday.
"In the past two decades, the relations between the countries have improved. Indonesia has developed a lot in terms of political stability and growth compared to what it was in the last 15 years," the ambassador said.
"This needs to be understood by our partner," she further stressed.
Additionally, the role played by Indonesia in the ASEAN region and internationally too have actually helped bring the countries closer to each other.
"Indonesia, with a population of more than 240 million people, will be an important partner for the Netherlands in Asia. Therefore, it is also important to develop continuously this kind of mutual partnership," Retno said, adding, The two countries have also signed a comprehensive partnership document in 2009."
On the other hand, Indonesia considers the Netherlands as a crucial partner, a gateway for Jakarta to develop trade in the European region, she said.
The Netherlands is an important partner for Indonesia in the field of trade, investment and tourism, she said.
According to her, the trade value especially in the tourism and investment sector between the two countries reached more that U$4.5 billion in 2011.
To further strengthen ties, it`s vital to promote the new Indonesia to the Netherlands, she said.
"Exchange of cultural missions is one way to do this. Fore instance in this year, two big activities are on the cards. The Pasar Malam Indonesia (the Indonesia Night Fair) from March 29 to April 1, 2012, and Floriade in the Netherlands, from April to October 2012 in which Indonesia will participate," Retno said.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
