South Korea is aiming for greater achievement in its bilateral ties with Indonesia, strengthening the already “remarkably good” relations
outh Korea is aiming for greater achievement in its bilateral ties with Indonesia, strengthening the already “remarkably good” relations.
Ambassador Kim Young-sun said on Tuesday that he was content with the cooperation already enjoyed between the two countries and aimed to bring the ties closer still, considering the “potential, zeal and passion’’ among both Indonesians and South Koreans.
Kim said close cooperation existed not only in trade, investment and infrastructure but also in defense. “We are jointly developing the next generation fighter jet, the IFX/KFX, in addition to cooperation regarding submarines and trainer jets,’’ he said during a ceremony commemorating South Korea’s National Founding Day and Armed Forces Day.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said that South Korea was an important partner for Indonesia. “South Korea was the first country I visited in seeking win-win cooperation in the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development [MP3EI],” Hatta said, adding that in 2011 trade volume was at US$31 billion, and there were aims to increase it to $40 billion by 2014 and $100 billion by 2020.
South Korean investment in 2011 was $1.3 billion, four times the figure in 2010.
Also attending the ceremony were Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, and National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief, Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman.
South Korea and Indonesia are due to commemorate their 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2013. To this end, various cultural performances are being prepared in both countries.
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