ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP):Pakistan and Indonesia on Thursday agreed to intensify bilateral collaboration
for the mutual benefit of their two peoples and for supporting initiatives for the projection of rightful image of the Muslim faith and the Ummah.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with the Foreign Minister of
Indonesia, Retno Marsudi, on the sidelines of the OIC Council of Foreign
Ministers (CFM) meeting in Jeddah.
According to a Foreign Office press statement, Foreign Minister Qureshi
conveyed his felicitations on the re-election of President Joko Widodo.
He noted that Pakistan and Indonesia enjoyed a long-standing relationship
based on religious and cultural affinities, mutual trust, and commonality of
views on a number of regional and international issues.
Recalling President Widodo’s successful visit to Pakistan in 2018, Foreign
Minister Qureshi termed it as a high point in bilateral relations. It was agreed
that the second round of policy planning dialogue was a fruitful exercise in
exchanging views on a wide range of issues and should be followed up by
the next round in 2019.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed keen desire to
further expand bilateral economic engagement. Mentioning the current
volume of bilateral trade at US$3 billion, the Foreign Minister observed
that given the economic complementarities, the trade volume could be
enhanced substantially.
He expressed Pakistan’s appreciation for Indonesia’s opening of 20
additional tariff lines in the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan highlighted the prospects of joint
ventures with Indonesia in the field of defence production. Both Ministers
also agreed to hold the inaugural meeting of the Joint Committee on
Defence Cooperation in Pakistan soon.
Foreign Minister Qureshi sought Indonesia’s continued support for
Pakistan’s bid to become ‘Full Dialogue Partner’ of ASEAN.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister lauded Pakistan’s role in regional
security and stability. She also apprised of the initiatives Indonesia,
envisaged to help promote the cause of peace and stability in the
neighbourhood.
The two sides agreed to increase the frequency of high level bilateral
exchanges to maintain the current momentum in the growth of bilateral
cooperation in diverse fields.
Pakistan, Indonesia agree to intensify bilateral collaboration
