Jokowi, Papua New Guinea's Marape forge four bilateral agreements

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The meeting between Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Bogor, West Java, on Monday generated four bilateral agreements.

In a joint press statement, Jokowi stated that these agreements are necessary to strengthen the security of both nations.

"Indonesia also welcomes the implementation of the second joint business forum and the signing of two memorandums of understanding on land borders for passenger and goods transportation," he remarked.

Jokowi assessed that cooperation in cross-border land transportation for passengers and goods is needed to improve the economy and strengthen relations between residents at the border, and both leaders agreed on cross-border movement for commercial buses and goods.

Baca juga: President Jokowi receives visit of PNG Prime Minister Marape

This agreement regulates the public transportation mechanism from Jayapura, Indonesia, to Vanimo, Papua New Guinea.

The second agreement pertains to the cross-border transport of goods by motor vehicles. This regulates the movement of goods carried by public transport passengers across the Jayapura and Vanimo borders.

Jokowi also lauded the renewal of the cooperation agreement in the health sector that has been in place since 2018 and had expired in 2022.

This collaboration regulates several general welfare issues regarding public health on the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border.

The fourth cooperation agreement covers the education sector to provide a legal umbrella for training and capacity building for teaching staff and scholarships for students.

"This health cooperation renewal and the signing of education cooperation aim to strengthen collaboration between the two countries," Jokowi stated.

He also emphasized the importance of continuing discussions on the preferential trade agreement to step up trade between both nations.