Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) met with US President Joe Biden at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland, on Monday to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between both nations.
The meeting focused on at least four issues: health cooperation, economic cooperation, climate change, and Group of Twenty (G20).
Indonesia lauded the cooperation with the US in the health field during the COVID-19 pandemic, including assistance for vaccines through the dose-sharing mechanism, ventilators, therapeutic medicines, and other health devices, Jokowi remarked.
The president expressed Indonesia's eagerness to be part of the global supply chain in the health field through development of the Indonesian health industry.
He further stressed the significance of strengthening economic cooperation, particularly in the development of the green economy. Indonesia can become a reliable partner with other countries, including the US, for development of the green economy.
With regard to climate change, Jokowi reiterated Indonesias commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
Indonesia has shown good results of its endeavors to lower significantly the deforestation rate and the incidence of forest fires recorded at the lowest level in two decades.
I will restore up to 600 thousand hectares of mangrove forests in three years time. This will be the worlds largest mangrove forest conservation effort, he added.
In the energy sector, Jokowi spoke of Indonesia having launched energy transformation towards new and renewable energy and made efforts to accelerate the development of green technology-based economy.
He invited the US to invest in Indonesias new and renewable energy sector, including for the development of electric cars and the lithium battery ecosystem.
I hope for the US support through investment to accelerate energy transition, particularly in the field of low carbon technology, he affirmed.
The head of state highly lauded the US support for Indonesias presidency for the G20 Summit in 2022 themed "Recover Together, Recover Stronger". Inclusivity will be the key to Indonesias presidency of G20.
During its presidency of the G20, Indonesia is looking forward to pushing for concrete cooperation in several key sectors, ensuring inclusive digital transition for growth and development, encouraging investment and transfer of low and affordable carbon technology, and inclusive finance, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women, and vulnerable groups.
"We must make G20 relevant not only to its members but also to the world, particularly developing nations, he noted.
The two leaders also exchanged views on various international issues of mutual concern, including issues related to Myanmar and Afghanistan. (*)
