ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Sugiono received a visit from the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, at the office of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
This visit is part of the preparations for the visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, to Indonesia which is scheduled for May 2025. The visit of the French President to Indonesia was carried out in the context of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and France which falls this year.
In the meeting, the two Ministers discussed the latest developments in bilateral relations with a focus on strengthening the Indonesia-France Strategic Partnership which has been established since 2011.
“The partnership between Indonesia and France continues to grow, not only at the government level, but also through cooperation between the business world and relations between communities,” said Sugiono.
The meeting also discussed President Macron’s planned visit, including the finalization of various agreements that will become deliverables, including in the fields of transportation, disaster risk management, agriculture, and agricultural policy reform.
Furthermore, the meeting also discussed the importance of increasing collaboration with the private sector, especially in the fields of energy, agri-food, transportation, and logistics. In addition, the two ministers also highlighted Indonesia’s potential in the creative and digital economy and agreed to strengthen cooperation, especially for the development of the digital economy ecosystem and increasing the capacity of creative talents including in the film, animation, and game sectors.
The two Ministers also agreed to strengthen defense cooperation. Minister Sugiono specifically welcomed the recent ratification of the Indonesia-France Defense Cooperation Agreement by the French Parliament. He also conveyed the importance of maritime collaboration to realize a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Minister Sugiono welcomed the French naval military training mission in the Indo-Pacific region, La Pérouse in January 2025. The two Ministers also agreed to continue the 2+2 dialogue between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense to discuss regional and global issues.
In the economic sector, the two countries recorded stable trade with a value of US$2.4 billion in 2024, while French investment in Indonesia continued to increase, reaching US$328.1 million in the same year.
In addition to bilateral issues, the two Ministers also exchanged views on the global situation, including Gaza and Ukraine. Indonesia emphasized its commitment to world peace and peaceful conflict resolution.
On this occasion, Minister Sugiono also expressed his appreciation for France’s support for Indonesia’s accession process to the OECD.
Closing the meeting, the two Ministers agreed to continue strengthening the Indonesia-France strategic partnership, and ensure that President Macron’s visit to Indonesia results in cooperation that brings real benefits to both countries. (AT Network)
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