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ndonesia’s desire to engage with its neighboring countries makes it a gateway for Fiji to enhance bilateral ties with 10-nation ASEAN, the Pacific island nation’s envoy said on Wednesday.

“[Indonesia’s] political stability, robust economic growth and desire to engage with neighbors [...] makes Indonesia — for Fiji — an appropriate launching pad for effective bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the region,” Ambassador to Indonesia Selena Dikawakawayali Veisamasama said during a reception in Jakarta to commemorate Fiji’s 48th Independence Day.

Indonesia, home to ASEAN’s largest population and economy, has positioned itself as a benevolent giant in the South Pacific, cooperating with island nations on human resources development, education and other work dealing with common concerns.

Jakarta has also sought to consolidate people-to-people ties in the region, centered on the 11 million ethnic Melanesians who reside in five of its eastern provinces.

Throughout the years, Indonesia’s work with its neighbors in the Pacific has also resulted in a number of influential subregional organizations, such as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the Southwest Pacific Dialogue (SWPD), the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) and the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF).

With Fiji, Indonesia has maintained a strong and dynamic relationship for the past 30 years. It has helped Fiji respond to disaster and has offered cooperation in fisheries, agriculture and defense.

Veisamasama said that to date, Indonesia and Fiji had 18 signed memorandums of understanding under the Development Cooperation Agreement, including on antidrug trafficking, women’s empowerment and child protection, and the conservation of forests.

“And just before our reception this evening, a note has come through that there will be a handing over of 100 handheld tractors from the Republic of Indonesia to Fiji,” she added, thanking the Indonesian government on behalf of Fijian farmers.

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, who attended Wednesday’s reception, said the two countries had witnessed flourishing ties since Fiji was persuaded to open an embassy in Jakarta in 2011.

“Indonesia and Fiji share many similarities as archipelagic and diverse countries. Agriculture and fisheries have played significant roles in our countries,” he said.

Both countries faced common challenges, particularly climate change and natural disasters. “We can work together in these areas to generate more welfare for people in our countries,” Moeldoko said.

Wednesday’s reception, enlivened by a Fijian war dance performance, among other things, commemorated Fiji Day, which marks the anniversary of Fiji’s cessation to the United Kingdom in 1874 and its eventual independence on Oct. 10, 1970.