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PNG to teach Bahasa Indonesia in schools
Foreign Minister Retno L
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oreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi said on Tuesday that Papua New Guinea had agreed to the possibility of making the Indonesian language a subject in their schools.
Retno said that the two countries would set up a pilot project so that the plan to teach Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian) in elementary and junior high schools in Indonesia's neighboring country could materialize soon.
'With this cooperation, the relationship between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea will get stronger,' Retno said, as quoted by tempo.co.
The agreement was reached in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Retno met Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting.
Apart from an agreement on language teaching, both ministers also discussed an increase in cooperation in other sectors.
In June, Indonesia joined the Melanesian Spearhead Group as an associate member.
With the new status, Retno said Indonesia was committed to improving cooperation with the group, especially in relation to the economy.
Indonesia is home to 11 million Melanesians who reside in Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara. With this in mind, establishing closer ties with countries in the Pacific region is one of the government's top priorities. (ika)(++++)
