REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia and Peru are seeking to enhance bilateral cooperation during the visit of Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to Lima, Peru, on Wednesday. Marsudi, in a press release on Thursday, conveyed that Peru is an important market for Indonesia, but the economic cooperation between the two countries is yet to reflect their full potential.

"During the first bilateral visit of an Indonesian foreign minister to Peru, Foreign Minister Popolizio and I discussed a range of bilateral cooperation sectors. We both agreed to strengthen, in particular, the economic cooperation between the two countries," Marsudi noted in her Twitter account.

In the field of trade cooperation, Indonesia has proposed the establishment of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, starting with the Trade in Goods Agreement as its initial stage.

It also underlined the importance of improving interaction among private sectors and product diversification for their bilateral trade. Marsudi then invited Peruvian businessmen to attend the Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) to be held in October 2018.

Indonesia is also committed to participate in the Expoalimentaria and Mistura Food Festival to be held this year in Peru. Indonesia and Peru have established diplomatic ties since 1975.

Currently, Peru is the fourth largest trade partners of Indonesia in South American region. Statistics showed that the total trade volume between the two countries in 2017 experienced an increase of 5.3 percent from 2016.

Besides trade cooperation, both ministers discussed efforts to improve cooperation in the agriculture, fisheries, and social and culture fields. Indonesia and Peru have already had an agreement to grant visa-free access for regular, official, and diplomatic passport holders to travel in the countries.

Marsudi and Popolozio also exchanged views on international and regional issues of concern, including crisis in Venezuela and Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Marsudi conveyed Indonesia's appreciation and the reciprocal support provided by the South American country for Indonesia's candidacy for a non permanent member seat of UN Security Council 2019-2020, of which the voting will be held on June 8 at the UN Headquarters, New York.

During her visit to Lima, Marsudi was also granted the Order of the Sun of Peru (Orden del Sol del Peru) in the rank of Grand Cross by the Government of Peru.

The "Orden del Sol del Peru" is the highest civilian award given by the Peruvian government to its citizens and foreigners who have excelled in fields such as arts, literature, culture, and politics, or who have provided extraordinary services to Peru.

Marsudi was the first Indonesian to receive the Peruvian award. She was granted the award for her contribution to strengthen bilateral ties between Indonesia and Peru.

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