JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will hold several bilateral meetings with her counterparts from the Group of 20 largest economies, or G-20, on the resort island of Bali.
Indonesia, which holds the rotating presidency of the G-20, will host the Foreign Ministers' Meeting from July 7-8 to discuss global recovery efforts under the theme “Building a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous world together.”
Retno met the envoys from the European Union, Senegal, the United Arab Emirates, and Argentina, among others, on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
In her meeting with the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Retno will discuss food and fertilizer supplies.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, July 7, Indonesia and Senegal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Diplomatic Consultation, which aims to increase bilateral cooperation in various fields between both nations.
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Senegalese Foreign Minister Aïssata Tall Sall said that Indonesia was the first G-20 president who invited the participation of the African Union, which is currently chaired by Senegal.
“On bilateral cooperation, the two foreign ministers have signed the MoU on Diplomatic Consultation to increase bilateral cooperation in various fields,” said Retno in a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Thursday, July 7.
Potential investment in Indonesia’s new capital city Nusantara
Retno also talked to the United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussing various issues of mutual interest following Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s recent visit to Abu Dhabi on July 1.
“We specifically discussed cooperation on the development of Indonesia’s new capital city and other fields in healthcare, aviation, and mangrove conservation,” Retno said.
On the sidelines of the main meeting, Retno and her Argentinian counterpart Santiago Cafiero signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Extension of the Bilateral Consultation Forum to enhance cooperation in various fields.
The two ministers agreed on enhancing cooperation in the fields of agriculture and energy, including Argentina’s interest in participating in the development of the project in Indonesia’s new capital city.
“The Argentine Foreign Minister expressed the interest of Argentine companies to participate in various infrastructure development projects in the new capital city,” said Retno.
Besides, the two ministers also discussed recent developments in Ukraine and the impacts on global food supply chains, especially for developing countries. Indonesia and Argentina agreed that developing countries would continue to voice their voices for an immediate end to the war.
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“The Argentine Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for Indonesia’s G-20 presidency during this difficult situation,” she said.
As the G-20 chair, Indonesia gives priority to strengthening cooperation in the global health architecture, digital transformation, and energy transition.
With the current situation in Ukraine, issues related to food security will also be widely discussed in various G-20 meetings. Although this week’s ministerial will not produce an official document or communique, the discussion of global issues by the G-20 foreign ministers is expected to encourage more concrete cooperation in the future.
(Writer: Fika Nurul Ulya | Editor: Bagus Santosa)
