Indonesian-German Foreign Ministers Discuss Comprehensive Partnership Cooperation

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Lestari Marsudi and her German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed comprehensive partnership cooperation in economic, diplomatic, and cultural sectors, among others.

"We have discussed several bilateral cooperation issues, particularly in economic and trade sectors, which we will enhance. I have also urged the German government to facilitate access for Indonesian products, including commodity goods," Retno emphasized here on Monday.

According to Retno, the total trade volume between Indonesia and Germany currently stands at US$7.3 billion.

Since 2013, Germany has also invested in a Volkswagen car factory in Cikampek.

The car factory, which is popularly known as "VW," manufactures at least five thousand cars each year.

According to the data, the company will invest US$100 million to expand its plant in Cikampek of West Java.

Indonesian Foreign Minister also proposed to Steinmeier to implement the free-visa entry regulation for Indonesian diplomatic and service passport holders who enter Germany.

"It means to implement a free-visa policy for black- and blue-colored passports as the German government has not yet agreed to it. However, Minister Steinmeier has agreed to review the possibilities," Retno stated.

Minister Steinmeier further added that Germany and Indonesia have discussed the solution and have identified the areas of potential cooperation between the two countries.

Steinmeier is accompanied by several teams such as the economic, parliament, and cultural delegations.

"We are not visiting Indonesia as a political delegation, but we bring along parliament members and an economic delegation to deepen mutual political understanding," Steinmeier noted.

In order to intensify mutual understanding in the economic and trade sectors, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of both nations have held a meeting to discuss further potential cooperation.

Minister Steinmeier is also promoting cultural cooperation by supporting the study program of the German cultural center, Goethe-Institut, in Jakarta.

Minister Steinmeier has visited the Tanjung Priok and Sunda Kelapa Seaports on Sunday to get a firsthand glimpse of Indonesias maritime life.

The delegation is keen to evaluate Indonesias maritime sector that President Joko Widodo is focusing on.(WDY)