Australia wishes to maintain close ties with Indonesia
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stressed that he will maintain his country`s close ties with Indonesia, just as his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, did.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Photo: ajp.com.au)
Jakarta (VNA)- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stressed that he will maintainhis country`s close ties with Indonesia, just as his predecessor, MalcolmTurnbull, did.
The Australian leader made the affirmation in a joint statement issued by himand Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bogor on August 31, according to ANTARAnews agency.
"We have had excellentrelations, including people-to-people contact. Both countries want to encouragethe states and people to have closer relations," he said.
Morrison said Indonesia isAustralia’s important partner in the region and the world.
The two sides have alsotaken a big step in economic relations today by realising the existing economicopportunities, he said, adding that the Indonesian economy is important for notonly Australia but also the region and the world.
President Joko Widodo(Jokowi) and Prime Minister Morrison also witnessed the signing of a jointdeclaration on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership(IA-CEPA) by Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukito and AustralianMinister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham.
On the occasion, Birminghamalso signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Indonesian TransportationMinister Budi Karya Sumadi and Chief of the Indonesian Creative Economic BoardTriawan Munaf.
"We want to worktogether to promote the economies of the two countries. It is an honour for meto stand here in the first week of my term of office to show how close the relationsbetween Australia and Indonesia are," Morrison said.
Indonesia is the firstcountry visited by Morrison since he assumed the post of Australian primeminister on August 24.
He was formerly financeminister during the Turnbull government and minister of immigration and bordersecurity during the Tony Abbott government.-VNA
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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Photo: ajp.com.au) 
