Australia Says Indonesia Has Dynamic Politics

Jumat, 20 Februari 2009 - 14:08 WIB

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VIVAnews - The relationship between Indonesia and Australia has significantly improved since Kevin Rudd became Australian Prime Minister.

It the Intercontinental Hotel, Sydney, on Friday, 20 February, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said that the two countries have held 34 bilateral ministerial meetings in the past one year.

Earlier, Kevin Rudd addressed the audiences of Art Gallery with an affable yet touching speech on Thursday night, Feb 19. "Indonesia is not only a neighboring country. It is a friend [of Australia]," said Rudd.

Rudd reminded the Australian nation that Indonesia has turned into a democratic country practicing a dynamic politics.

Rudd hopes that Indonesia can be Australia's partner of greater significance. The cooperation between the two countries will be improved including those concerning with the economy, culture and education. Today, Australia will attach Bahasa Indonesia as a subject in the curriculum of secondary schools in the country following other languages such as Japanese, Korean and Chinese.

On another occasion, Rudd also said that, "the people of Australia are deeply affecting by the relief aid." The Indonesian government had given US$1 million for the Victorian bushfires. The money will be utilized to rebuild the destroyed schools in Victoria, Southeastern part of Australia. In addition, the Indonesian government also deployed forensic experts to identify the victims of the fatal bushfires. Two Indonesians have been listed as the fire victims.

The improved partnership of both countries started in 2005 through a joint statement on a comprehensive partnership between Indonesia and Australia. In addition to regulating matters on economic and security partnership, both countries agreed to intensify people-to-people relations or, in Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda's words, a "total diplomacy".

Both countries recorded significant growth in the economy lately. Australian exports to Indonesia during 2007-2008 amounted to US$4.5 billion. Australian imports from Indonesia reached US$5.3 billion. Indonesia is ranked 11 as trade partner with 2.2 percent of market share. Meanwhile, Australia was positioned at 8 as Indonesia's export destination country while Indonesia is at 9th position.

Australian investment in Indonesia reached A$2.6 billion while Indonesia's investment in Australia reached A$487 million. As of July 2007, both countries agreed to set out a feasibility test for free trade area (FTA).