Seoul-Jakarta Cooperation Getting Stronger

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono offers incense to pay his respects along with his wife Ani during a visit to the National Cemetery in Seoul, Tuesday. / AP-Yonhap

The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul contributed the following article on the occasion of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Seoul July 23-26. _ ED.

Indonesia's foreign policy is independently active, as enshrined in its Constitution.

``Independent'' specifies that Indonesia is not aligned with any superpower of the East or West, particularly during the Cold War era, but rather Indonesia actively engages in world organizations or communities to participate in resolving international issues.

In this regard, the government of Indonesia remains consistent in implementing a foreign policy orientation that is free and active.

Every step in the foreign policy is undertaken to advance and uphold national interest. The strengthening of the domestic political, social and economic situation has encouraged Indonesia to further activate its role in the regional and global political arena.

Indonesia continues to harness global interest in the process of regional integration toward the achievement of community of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020, and a closer cooperation between countries in Northeast Asia.

Indonesia's success in convening the Asia Africa Summit in 2005 has elevated the importance of the nation and state to an international level.

For that reason, Indonesia is becoming more involved in establishing world peace, as mandated by the preamble of the Constitution.

As a form of Indonesia's commitment, Indonesia has joined with the U.N. peacekeeping force in order to protect the people and to maintain peace in the region.

Indonesia will continue to enhance regional and international cooperation through the ASEAN forum, as well as others, including APEC, the Non-Align Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Indonesia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have very close relations. Indonesia has made some exchange visits between heads of states and high-ranking officials; there is mutual support at international forums and mutual cooperation in many practical fields.

The Korean government has supported the Indonesian government in its efforts to maintain its national integrity.

At the same time, the Indonesian government has offered its continual support to the Korean government at building peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

In this regard, the Indonesian government shares a common understanding with the Korean government that the issue should be addressed through peaceful dialogue.

Within the framework of ASEAN-ROK cooperation, under the scope of ASEAN + 3 and the Asian Regional Forum (ARF), Indonesia and Korea shared ideas and views on important regional issues for enhancing greater cooperation and strengthening regional stability as well as sharing a common interest in maintaining peace and stability in Asia Pacific.

The relations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Korea are gaining greater momentum, as both are moving to upgrade bilateral relations to a higher level.

The two countries' close relations and mutually beneficial cooperation will continue to flourish in the years to come as both countries established joint commissions chaired by foreign ministers whose first meeting was held in Seoul June 9, 2006.

This effort is further strengthened by the signing of ``The Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership to Promote Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Korea,'' Dec. 4, 2006, a partnership that entitled both nations to closer ties and strengthened cooperation.

During the state visit of President Roh Moo-hyun, the realization of the partnership was marked by the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and the Forest Service Agency of the Republic of Korea.

The MOUs are on the Cooperation on Investment in Forest Plantation and Afforestation/Reforestation Clean Development Mechanism Projects (A/R-CDM) Aug. 1, 2006, the sending of migrant workers Oct. 9, 2006, tourism cooperation and anti-corruption, and other agreements on the peaceful use of nuclear energy Dec. 4, 2006.

Economy

Economic cooperation between Indonesia and Korea is becoming increasingly stronger, covering many fields of interest.

They include economic development; information technology; foreign workers; energy; maritime and fisheries; forestry; tourism; small and medium enterprises; as well as science and technology.

Bilateral trade in 2006 reached a volume of $13.72 billion in which Indonesia enjoyed a surplus of $3.97 billion. Indonesia's primary exports to Korea were natural gas, oil and coal, while imports included mainly petrochemical, machineries and vehicles.

The cumulative value of approved Korean investment in Indonesia for the period of 1967-2006 amounted to $4,917 million in more than 1,000 projects.

It ranked Korea the eighth biggest foreign investor in Indonesia. Most of the Korean investors are small- and medium-sized companies working in the field of manufacturing such as textiles, garments, toys, plastic wares, etc.

Bilateral relations between Indonesia and Korea have been gaining greater momentum since last year, as both were moving to upgrade their bilateral relations to a higher stage.

To implement the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, an Eminent Persons' Group (EPG), established following the first Indonesia-South Korea Joint Commission Ministerial Meeting, has been mandated to perform a study on concrete cooperation priorities that are to be carried out by both countries.

The first Joint Task Force Meeting was held in Jakarta from April 30 to May 2, 2007.

The Korean delegation, consisting of 170 government officials and private sector individuals attended the meeting, chaired by the minister of commerce, industry and energy (MOCIE); the Indonesian side was chaired by the coordinating minister for economy.

The Joint Task Force Meeting was divided into eight working groups discussing and elaborating on possible and concrete areas of cooperation.

During the meeting, four MOUs were signed: the development of the railway and port for coal transport in East Kalimantan; investment in health equipment production; joint exploration of oil and gas in open regions between Pertamina, KNOC and SK Corp.; and cooperation on coal development between Bukit Asam Coal Mine and Korea Resources Corp.

Social and Cultural Fields

Cooperation between the two countries also occurred in both social and cultural fields. Exchange visits of cultural missions have been organized between the two countries.

The number of Indonesian students attending universities in Korea is increasing, either to master a specific subject or to learn the Korean language.

The number of Indonesian exchange students in Korea has been gradually increasing every year. In 2004 there were 70 Indonesian students; that number increased to 160 in 2007. Korean students' interest in studying in Indonesia is also increasing.

Many Korean students are studying the Indonesian language at various universities in Indonesia. A number of Korean students have also participated in the recently established art and cultural fellowship program of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2007, several memorandums of understanding (MOU) between Indonesian and Korean educational institutions were established, for example, the MOU between Padjajaran University and Yongsan University Busan; Han Seo University and UGM Yogyakarta; and Dong Seo University and Petra University. It is hoped that through these MOUs the prospect of Indonesian students studying in Korea will increase.

Indonesia and Korea signed a cultural agreement in 2000, which included cooperation in the fields of media, education, cultural exchange, sports, and youth, even though the implementation of the whole agreement hasn't yet fully materialized.

In the field of culture, Indonesia had been actively participating in various international annual events in Korea such as the International Wedding Exhibition in Seoul; Korea Tourism Fair in Seoul; Hi Seoul Festival; International Children's Book Fair on Nami Island; an international bazaar organized by the Seoul International Women's Association (SIWA); and the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in Busan.

Several groups of Indonesian traditional cultural performers also contributed to the promotion of Indonesian culture in Korea.

Regarding the cooperation between Indonesian and Korean local authorities, sister city or sister province cooperation was established, such as between DKI Jakarta and Seoul; Surabaya and Busan; Bandung and Suwon; Bandung and Daejeon; Yogyakarta and Gyeongju; Medan and Gwangju; Semarang and Gwangmyeong; Semarang and Ulsan; Jawa Timur and South Gyeongsang Province; Bali and Jeju Island; Sulawesi Selatan and Gyeonggi Province; and Yogyakarta and Gangbuk District in Seoul.

Migrant Workers in Korea

Korea has been importing migrant workers since the 1980s and has become a major destination for foreign workers.

The impact of these foreign workers is very large as they play an extremely important role in certain key industries, both in small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. Recent studies indicate that they have also been employed in other sectors such as construction, agriculture and livestock, and fisheries.

Some policies regarding foreign recruitment have been implemented. The Joint Venture Trainee System, the Industrial Trainee System and the Employment Trainee System are examples of such amendments.

Indonesia has been sending workers to Korea since 1994 through the Industrial Trainee System. On Oct. 9, 2006, Indonesia and Korea renewed and signed a new set of MOUs on the shipment of workers.

As of April 30, 2007, 29,908 Indonesian citizens were in Korea. More than 95 percent of them are workers.