Norway’s Prime Minister Solberg and Indonesia’s President meet in Jakarta

Norway and Indonesia agree to work as quickly as possible towards a platform for extending their climate and forest partnership. Norway expresses concerns over Indonesia’s resumption of the use of the death penalty.

 

On 14 April 2015 Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg met Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jarkarta, for talks on climate and forest cooperation, maritime cooperation, business and human rights. This was the first official visit to Indonesia from Norway during his presidency.

Solberg-President-Indonesia

Norway’s PM was in Indonesia to:
– Consolidate and develop the good bilateral relations between Norway and Indonesia, and to strengthen the Norwegian engagement in the region through dialogue with one of Asia’s most influential countries.
– Highlight the work of the UN Secretary General’s MDG (Millennium Development Goals) Advocacy Group and the dynamic climate and forest cooperation between Indonesia and Norway.
– Promote stronger economic ties and encourage the CEPA-negotiations. (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) between Indonesia and EFTA (European Free Trade Association – Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) to be resumed.
– Open doors for Norwegian industry, and facilitate and strengthen business relations between Norway and Indonesia.
‘Norway and Indonesia enjoy longstanding and good relations. As maritime countries, we have a great deal in common. We cooperate in a large number of areas, including climate change and deforestation, energy, trade, democracy and poverty reduction,’ said Erna Solberg.

President Widodo and M Solberg agreed to strengthen the extensive cooperation between Norway and Indonesia on climate and forests. They will ask the relevant ministers in their governments to agree as quickly as possible on a platform for extending the climate and forest partnership.

Norway has provided longstanding support for Indonesia’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat forest crime and promote economic and social development.
Topics discussed included Indonesia’s new maritime strategy, business cooperation, renewable energy, and efforts to combat climate change. Indonesia’s President commended Norway for supporting a pilot project on the island of Sumba, which aims to ensure a transition to 100 % renewable energy use by 2025.

Ms Solberg praised Indonesia for the improvements that have been made in the country’s human rights situation since it became a democracy in 1998, but expressed concerns over Indonesia’s resumption of the use of the death penalty. Norway‘s PM raised concerns over indications given by the Widodo administration that it will continue to make use of the death penalty.

‘Norway is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. Our work in this area has high priority, and is an integral part of the Government’s human rights policy. Norway works actively to promote the abolition of the death penalty, and employs a wide range of tools to this end, in international and regional organisations, as well as directly in individual countries,’ she said.

Prime Minister Solberg, who co-chairs the UN Millennium Development Goals Advocacy Group together with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, also raised the issue of global education. Indonesia has worked systematically to meet MDG 2 on universal primary education. The level of school attendance is high among both boys and girls in the country. However, children from certain marginalised groups, for example indigenous peoples, still remain out of school.

Highlights during official visit:
– Business event “Norwegian Energy and Maritime opportunities in Indonesia” with Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mrs. Susi Pudjiastuti and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Sudirman Said.
– Official Welcoming Ceremony at Presidential Palace.
– Meeting with President Joko Widodo.
– Visit to Istiqlal Mosque and discussion with religious leaders on religious tolerance.
– Wreath Laying Ceremony at Kalibata National Heroes’ Cemetery.
– Field visit to Jambi rainforest.

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