Kalla optimistic of Kim-Trump meeting having positive impact

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TOKYO -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed optimism on the meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore. He believed it could end the conflict in the Korean Peninsula and positively impact the Asian region.

"Today, a high-level meeting in Singapore between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un was held to find a solution to the conflict in the Korean Peninsula, and we hope the meeting would end with good news for Asia and the world," Vice President Kalla noted in his speech at the 24th International Conference on the Future of Asia at Hotel Imperial Tokyo, Tuesday.

The vice president remarked that the International Conference on the Future of Asia this year is also no less important than the Kim-Trump meeting in Singapore, considering that the annual conference in Japan is a platform to increase Asian cooperation with other countries.

"Our discussion today focused on how to safeguard Asia's openness and to achieve prosperity, stability, and security. Our discussion is no less important than the meeting in Singapore," he added.

Kalla believed that a country's openness can encourage wider cooperation and maintain peace and stability in the region.

Hence, the vice president pointed out that nations in the Asian region support peace efforts in countries in conflict in a bid to maintain stability in the region.

"Political stability of a country is a prerequisite to economic development to achieve prosperity, while the welfare of society contributes to the stability of a country," he emphasized.

In Singapore, a historic meeting was held between the two heads of state -- Kim and Trump -- at the Capella Hotel on Tuesday.

Kim and Trump also demonstrated a friendly hue in front of the cameras of the media crew, shaking hands, greeting, and smiling at each other; to be ready to end the nuclear-related conflict in the Korean Peninsula.

"Nice to meet you Mr. President," Kim stated moments later as he sat beside Trump.

With the cameras of the world press focused on them, Trump and Kim built an initial friendship.

"I feel so great. We are going to have a great discussion, and it will be very successful. This is an honor for me, and we will have a great relationship, I have no doubt," Trump added.