German Chancellor Angela Merkel Will Visit Indonesia

The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel, said during the joint press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Republic of Indonesia that she will visit Indonesia in 2011 within the frameworks of enhancing the cooperation between the two countries. During the press conference conducted at the Federal Chancellor’s Office on 15 December 2009, the two leaders underlined their joint efforts to make the UNFCCC Summit on Climate Change on 17 – 18 December 2009 in Copenhagen a success.

The Chancellor of Germany said that the Indonesian President had a very good and valuable experience in solving bottleneck during the UNFCCC Bali Conference in 2007 resulting the Bali Road Map. For this purpose, the Chancellor pledged her support for the Troika of UNFCCC in Copenhagen composed of Indonesia, Poland and Denmark. The President of Indonesia said that there will be a “window of opportunity” in facing all the challenges and expressed his hope that each country contributes ideas to reach an agreement in Copenhagen.

On the same occasion, the leaders of the two countries also agreed to strengthen the cooperation between Germany and Indonesia in the fields of economy, trade and investment and to undertake to reactivate the German-Indonesian Economic Forum. The two leaders also agreed to enhance the cooperation on interfaith and intercultural dialogues which also intended to bridge Islam and the West.

The visit program of the Indonesian President in Berlin also included a call to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Köhler; a speech in front of invited guests; and a meeting with the representatives of the Indonesian organizations and communities in Germany as well as with the members of the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin.

The talks between the Presidents of Germany and Indonesia focused on the enhancement of cooperation in climate change, global financial crisis and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The President of Indonesia used the occasion to invite his German counterpart to visit Indonesia.

The Indonesian President also delivered a speech entitled “Vibrant Democracy, Emerging Economy and Crucial Carbon Sink” during an event attended by politicians, academicians, businessmen and other dignitaries. The full lecture hall and many questions by the participants concerning among others environmental protection, renewable energy and promotion of tourism testified to the great interest by the public for the presidential speech.

In the evening, the President, accompanied by his wife Ani Yudhoyono, met with the representatives of 41 Indonesian organizations making up the Indonesian community in Germany as well as with the staff members of the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin and their families. The President said that the concern that the reform efforts could be disrupted by some groupings did not materialize and that the reform efforts in Indonesia have begun to show tangible results. The President stressed that Indonesia is now one of the successful countries in Asia which was able to withstand the effects of the global financial crisis last year. The reform efforts will enter into its second phase with three new agendas, the improvement of the social condition, democracy and rule of law, and justice. (www.deplu.go.id / Photo:jawaban.com)