On 22 and 23 April, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and an Estonian business delegation visited the Indonesian capital Jakarta, where he emphasised the strong connection between the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region and the need for closer political and economic cooperation.
As part of his visit, Tsahkna met with the Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Dr Kao Kim Horn.
“Although there is great geographic distance between Estonia and Indonesia, our countries are bound by a commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship and digital solutions,” Tsahkna said. “The numerous geopolitical upheavals – whether military conflicts or trade disputes – also prove that the challenges we face are in many ways similar and confirm the need to intensify cooperation between our countries.”
The meetings discussed the strengthening of political and economic ties, cooperating in the digital field and boosting EU-ASEAN cooperation.
“The European Union and ASEAN are two of the world’s largest regional organisations, both of which value an open global economy, free trade and international law. Cooperation between the two organisations is key to promoting regional prosperity and stability,” Tsahkna said.
Speaking about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Tsahkna underlined that Russia is grossly violating international law and the principles of the UN Charter by waging a full-scale war, and is sowing instability not only in Europe but throughout the world.
“Security in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific region are closely linked, which is why achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and maintaining and strengthening the rules-based international order are in the interests of both Estonia and Indonesia,” Tsahkna said.
Within the framework of the visit, Foreign Minister Tsahkna met with Rini Widyantin, Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform, and Vivi Yulaswat, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation at the Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning, gave a public lecture at Trisakti University, participated in a security discussion at the CSIS think tank and the Estonian-Indonesia business forum organised by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
Photos of the Jakarta visit.
Press release on the Estonia-Indonesia business forum and business delegation visit to Jakarta.
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