Indonesia-France Strategic Partnership in the 75th Year of Diplomatic Ties

TheIndonesia.co - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi's successor, Minister Sugiono, and French Ambassador to Indonesia, His Excellency Fabien Penone, recently met to discuss ways to deepen the strategic partnership between Indonesia and France, marking the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

According to Antara News Agency, during the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Jakarta on Tuesday, Minister Sugiono expressed his gratitude for the growing high-level interactions between the two countries. He highlighted upcoming reciprocal visits by senior officials, which he believes will further enhance cooperation across various sectors.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released on Wednesday, emphasized that these visits are expected to strengthen collaborations in fields such as defense, trade and investment, energy transition, and the digital economy.

Minister Sugiono also called for increased cooperation between businesses to explore new investment opportunities. He particularly focused on areas like mineral downstreaming, green infrastructure, and boosting Indonesia's food industry in line with President Prabowo Subianto's "Asta Cita" vision.

He further noted that France ranks as Indonesia's fourth-largest European investor.

The discussions also centered on the importance of multilateral cooperation to address global challenges. Both sides emphasized the need for joint efforts to ensure food and nutrition security, geopolitical stability, and sustainable maritime governance.

The meeting also led to an agreement on expediting the finalization of cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, transportation, disaster management, education, and diplomatic training.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries agreed to continue fostering adaptable cooperation to address future challenges and opportunities.

In related news, it was previously announced that French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Indonesia in May 2025. Macron conveyed the visit plans to Indonesian Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, during the AI Action Summit in Paris this past February.