Safadi, Indonesian counterpart discuss bilateral relations, regional developments

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, on Tuesday discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and the latest regional developments.

The two ministers noted that there are “genuine” opportunities to increase Jordanian-Indonesian cooperation in the economic, investment, tourism and defence fields, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

During a joint press statement following the meeting, Safadi said that the 2 per cent growth achieved last year in trade exchange between the two countries, and the increase in the number of Indonesian tourists to the Kingdom to 40,000, are two major indicators of development in Amman-Jakarta relations.

Safadi also said that he briefed Marsudi on the outcomes of the London initiative to support investment to Jordan and its national economy, according to the statement.

He also said that the two sides also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in investment and education, with the aim of increasing the number of Indonesian students in Jordan, currently standing at 134, the statement said.

Safadi also said he discussed with Marsudi Jordanian-Indonesian defence cooperation, its partnership in combating terrorism and a number of regional issues, especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

In this regard, Safadi reemphasised the centrality of the Palestinian cause to Jordan and the entire region and the common Jordanian-Indonesian position on the two-state formula as the only solution to the long-running Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Safadi said that no regional peace will be achieved without realising the Palestinian right to an independent state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Safadi also said that he briefed his Indonesian counterpart on Jordan’s efforts to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, according to the statement.

Safadi added that he discussed with Marsudi efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis, stressing in this regard the need for a continued international support to Jordanian humanitarian assistance to the Syrian refugees.

“Pressure is mounting [on Jordan], and the refugee crisis is still persisting,” Safadi said, adding that no more than 13,000 Syrian refuges have returned home since the reopening of the border crossing with Syria. 

Safadi said his meeting with Marsudi also tackled the Rohingya crisis and the need for more intensified efforts to resolve their dilemma, according to the statement. 

For her part, Marsudi voiced Jakarta’s keenness on enhancing its cooperation and coordination with Amman on regional issues of mutual concern, especially the Palestinian question which, she said, “lies at the heart of Indonesian diplomacy”.

Marsudi also thanked Jordan for supporting the Indonesian candidacy for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, the statement said.