France's Foreign Minister Visits Indonesia

TheIndonesia.id - The French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, made an official visit to Indonesia on November 23 and 24, 2021. This is his first visit to the Southeast Asian region since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a written statement received from the French Embassy in Jakarta, Tuesday, November 23, 2021, Jean-Yves Le Drian would hold a bilateral meeting with President Joko Widodo. Mr. Le Drian will reaffirm France's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

He will also state France's desire to build a sustainable partnership with Indonesia, as a country at the heart of France's strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.

A meeting will also be held with the Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, to conduct a political consultation at the ministerial level.

The Indonesian and French will sign a cooperation action plan that will strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the areas of cooperation that have been established, including security, multilateralism, and maritime affairs. Meanwhile, new fields that will be included are the health sector and the digital sector.

Le Drian will also meet the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. The two will specifically announce the first edition of the French and Indonesian maritime dialogue. He is also set to meet Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Furthermore, Le Drian is scheduled to deliver a speech entitled 'France in the Indo-Pacific' at a conference held on 24 November by CSIS as well as meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi.

"This visit shows France's great interest in Indonesia, as well as its desire to give new momentum to bilateral relations based on the strategic partnership between the two countries which was launched in 2011. This visit also confirms France's commitment to ASEAN," the French Embassy said.