REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have held bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Viantiane, Laos, Thursday (8/9). In the bilateral meeting, Jokowi and Turnbull have discussed maritime cooperation that have been woven between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia and Australia both have active role in the East Asia Summit (EAS) and Indian Ocean Rim-Association (IORA). Due to active in the international maritime organization, the two countries have boosted cooperation in the maritime sector.
"Australia and Indonesia will be the first country that will implement the maritime cooperation in EAS and continues to play an active role in IORA," she said.
President Jokowi hoped Australia can support Indonesia in the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing issue.
Indonesia and Australia agreed that the priority in the maritime sector is maritime security and prosperity of the maritime sector.
In addition to discussions about maritime issues, Retno said, Jokowi and Turnbull also discussed a number of other issues, which is about the trade cooperation and cooperation in the fight against terrorism. During the meeting, Jokowi also expressed his willingness to meet the Prime Minister Turnbull invitation to Australia. The president going to Australia in November.