her visit to Indonesia has been marked by agreement for comprehensive partnership."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Germany have agreed to increase their cooperation to make it more comprehensive and to become strategic partners to benefit each other.
"(This visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel) is very important and we have agreed to increase our cooperation and partnership in the future," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at a joint press conference at the Merdeka Palace after holding a bilateral meeting with Chancellor Merkel.
He said "her visit to Indonesia has been marked by agreement for comprehensive partnership."
Indonesia meanwhile, he said, has presented cooperation priorities based on a "5+3" formula as the main sectors for the cooperation.
The five sectors include economy, health, education, research, technology and defense while the three others are agriculture, food and transportation, he said.
"I am glad for the positive response from Madame Merkel. We have found concrete and real cooperation," he said.
Chancellor Merkel at the conference praised Indonesia`s development which has been very fast seen from its conditions 17 years ago when she first came to the country while she was an environment minister.
"With the Jakarta declaration we would work together and develop a lot of strategic cooperation programs," she said.
She said the two countries should escort the implementation of the declaration so that any weakness or shortage could be improved to make the quality of cooperation improved.
Germany, she said, views Indonesia as a diverse country in terms of social or geographical conditions so that it could be taken as an example with regard to its handling of various problems it is facing under its complex conditions.
Chancellor Merkel came to Indonesia to reciprocate President Yudhoyono`s visit to Germany in 2009.
Chancellor Merkel and delegation that includes the state secretary for economic affairs, some parliament members and businessmen arrived at the Merdeka Presidential Palace at around 3pm.
Following a ceremony held in honor of her guest President Yudhoyono then held a tete a tete followed by a bilateral meeting between the two countries` delegations.
Accompanying President Yudhoyono in the meeting were coordinating minister for political and security affairs Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for economic affairs Hatta Rajasa, trade minister Gita Wirjawan, public works minister Djoko Kirmanto, health minister Nafsiah Mboi, minister/state secretary Sudi Silalahi, cabinet secretary Dipo Alam, national police chief General Timur Pradopo and other high ranking officials. (P008/YH)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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