Jakarta –

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. Issues from economic cooperation to socio-political conditions in the ASEAN region are discussed.

The meeting was held at the Rihga Royal Hotel, Hiroshima, Japan on Saturday (20/5/2023). During the meeting, Jokowi and Trudeau discussed an economic cooperation agreement involving Indonesia and Canada.

“Request Your Majesty’s support for the conclusion of the CEPA agreement between Indonesia and Canada, the realization of the investments of the Canadian Pension Fund which focus on the development of the capital of the archipelago, the development of a funding mechanism for feasibility study for the project virgin land in Indonesia,” Jokowi said in a press release from the Office of Press, Media and Information of the Presidential Secretariat.

A number of ministers accompanied Jokowi during the meeting with Trudeau. Ministers accompanying him were Coordinating Minister of Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of BUMN Erick Thohir, cabinet secretary Pramono Anung and the ministry’s East Asia director. of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Santo Darmosumarto.

The meeting also discussed the issue of accelerating the realization of the construction of a green airport in North Kalimantan. Jokowi and Trudeau also discussed exploration and beneficiation of rare earth metals and the creation of a bilateral working group.

In addition, Jokowi also expressed his gratitude for Canada’s support which has helped to help Indonesia’s energy transition.

“I hope that $20 billion in financial aid can be obtained soon, but not in the form of debt,” Jokowi said.

The issue of food safety is also one of the topics discussed. Jokowi lobbied for the implementation of an agreement between the Indonesian BUMNs and the Canadian Commercial Corporation regarding the supply of potash and wheat.

During the meeting, President Jokowi and Prime Minister Trudeau also discussed ASEAN, including the situation in Myanmar. Jokowi said the ASEAN-Canada summit would be held in September 2023 in Indonesia.

“See you in Jakarta, PM Trudeau,” Jokowi said.

Watch the video ‘Jokowi meets Japanese Prime Minister, discuss MRT with IKN’:

(ygs/day)