ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – United States (US) Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Richard Verma met with a number of Indonesian government officials on February 1-2 in Jakarta, to continue bilateral cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) announced by President Biden and President Joko Widodo in November 2023 at the White House.
The US diplomat’s visit took place in the middle of a political year, where Indonesia will hold presidential and vice presidential elections on February 14.
Spokesperson for the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Matthew Miller, explained that in a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Pahala Mansury, the two officials celebrated 75 years of bilateral relations and the end of negotiations on the CSP Action Plan as a guide for bilateral relations for the next five years. The two Deputy Ministers also discussed economic cooperation as well as regional and global issues, including the situation in the Middle East and the importance of global health security.
The US Deputy Secretary of State emphasized the US commitment to ASEAN and ASEAN centrality.
Separately, US Deputy Secretary of State and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan discussed critical minerals cooperation and implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a critical long-term partnership that will mobilize more than $20 billion in public and private funding to accelerate the transition clean energy in Indonesia.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Verma and Deputy Coordinating Minister for the Indonesian Economy, Dr. Edi Prio Pambudi discussed cooperation to build a safe and resilient semiconductor supply chain, supporting Indonesia’s interest in joining the OECD, and sharing initiatives under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).
Deputy Minister Verma thanked Indonesia for supporting the 2023 APEC hosting year.
In addition to bilateral meetings with senior Indonesian officials, Deputy Minister Verma and the Permanent Representatives discussed the US-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, including through the US’s role as the number one source of foreign direct investment in the region.
Deputy Foreign Minister Verma reaffirmed ASEAN’s centrality by emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and thanked ASEAN members who continue to pressure the Myanmar military regime to implement the Five-Point Consensus.
While in Jakarta, Deputy Minister Verma also led a public dialogue on the Indo-Pacific Strategy as well as the expansion of the US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN and Indonesia in the US with policy makers and Indonesian youth. (AT Network)
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