Marty said that there is still scope for increasing cooperation between the two countries especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said Indonesia and Australia are key to stability in the region, in view of their significant roles at various international forums.

"Stability and security at global or regional level are very important with regard to our development efforts for the welfare of the people," he said in a press statement on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro met with the Australian Foreign Minister and Defense Minister in Canberra on Thursday, to discuss regional as well as global security and defense issues.

The 2+2 format meeting was a follow-up to the agreement made by the leaders of the two countries when Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited Australia in 2010.

Minister Marty said that there is still scope for increasing cooperation between the two countries especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment.

"The relations between Indonesia and Australia are strong, solid and comprehensive. The consultation mechanism has also been comprehensive involving not only the government but also community elements," he said.

At bilateral levels, he said, the focus was on increasing cooperation between the two countries in overcoming cross-border crimes.

In the field of defense, the two countries are focusing on efforts to increase non-combat military operations cooperation especially in the field of disaster handling.

Regarding regional level issues, officials of the two countries discussed the increasing cases of human trafficking in the region that led to an agreement to overcoming the problem through the Bali Process.

They also discussed strategic issues such as the South China Sea problem, the positive development of democracy in Myanmar and cooperation under the ASEAN context.

In the short visit, the Indonesian Foreign Minister also paid a courtesy call to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and was a speaker at a general lecture held by The Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI) at the Australian National University.

The meeting was held in preparation for the planned visit of Indonesian President Yudhoyono to Australia for the `Indonesia-Australia Annual Leaders` Meeting` in Darwin in May.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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