REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BRUSSELS -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has met the President of European Parliament, Martin Schulz, and discussed potential cooperation in the economic and political sectors.
Schulz said Indonesia is an important partner for countries in Europe, according to the Presidential Communication Team's Ari Dwipayana.
Ari said Schulz also supports the advancement of scoping papers and hopes the negotiation for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the European Union (EU) and Indonesia can be started immediately.
The European Parliament President appreciated Indonesia's role in peace keeping, including during the Saudi Arabia and Iran dispute issue.
Additionally, President Jokowi described the development of politics and democracy in Indonesia. As a country that has the biggest Muslim population, Indonesia can implement democracy and tolerance.
The President said these values are important and need be promoted to the world as it is essential to create peace.
At the invitation of the European Parliament President, Jokowi said Indonesia will assign an Indonesian interfaith dialogue figure to attend the event that will be hosted by the European Parliament.
"I hope negotiation starts soon. CEPA would make the economy open wider and more competitive," President Jokowi said.
He also said the European can remove the sanctions imposed on Indonesian palm oil. The sustainable issue of the palm oil production has been a priority for Indonesia.
Both leaders also noted the importance of increasing cooperation between Indonesian and European parliaments.
President Jokowi also lauded the plan to tighten relationship between the parliaments.
Jokowi and Schulz also agreed that the relationship between ASEAN and the European Union is important.
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