ASIATODAY.ID, WASHINGTON – United States President Joe Biden welcomed the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo at the White House, Tuesday (14/11/2023).
Marking a historic new phase in bilateral relations between the two countries, the two leaders agreed to upgrade United States-Indonesia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
President Biden and President Widodo celebrated this unprecedented level of cooperation, built on shared values of democracy and pluralism, by announcing new initiatives to create a better future for the citizens of both countries and the Indo-Pacific region which is free, open, prosperous, safe and resilient.
President Biden thanked President Jokowi for Indonesia’s leadership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN and underlined the United States’ commitment to deepening cooperation in Southeast Asia and with Indonesia.
Since 2002, the United States has provided more than US$6.2 billion in development, economic, health, and security assistance in Indonesia, which also includes more than US$2 billion to improve education and health, and more than US$1.2 billion to encourage economic growth.
In addition, President Biden has requested additional funding of US$172 million in the form of new programs in various sectors, including the climate sector and clean energy transition, economic growth and health.
“This will mark a new era in relations between the United States and Indonesia as a whole, which will affect everything. This includes increasing security cooperation, especially maritime security. And this includes expanding our cooperation to build safe and resilient supply chains. This also includes deepening our collaboration to combat the climate crisis,” said President Biden.
“The United States is one of the most important partners for Indonesia. And we agreed to upgrade our partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. But most importantly, we have to provide real meaning. For Indonesia, economic cooperation is a priority, including supply chain matters,” said President Joko Widodo. (AT Network)
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