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Indonesian President, Australian PM meet to revive ties

Xinhua, November 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met here Thursday, agreeing to revive diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries which were badly strained in previous years.

Both leaders vowed to strengthen cooperation in economic, financial and investment fields, such as cattle industry, one of Australia's important sectors.

"We are going to give a really strong additional momentum to work between Australia and Indonesia in making our two great nations greatest still," Prime Minister Turnbull said at a joint press conference on the sideline of their visit to the Asia's biggest grocery textile market, Tanah Abang here.

Both Australia and Indonesia have a history of up-and-down diplomatic ties stretching back decades, but the relations turned down to a historic low in wake of rows over spying, asylum seeker policies and the execution of Australians in Indonesia on drug offense.

President Jokowi, nick name of the president, pledged to restore the relationship of the two neighboring countries.

"I want to introduce Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the people, hence the people know that Indonesia and Australia are close each other," President Jokowi said.

On economic and investment ties, both President Jokowi and PM Turnbull vowed to support the sector through leadership.

"As the president and I, we both were businessmen. Automatically this relationship might be built by people of business, both, we can provide real leadership, and that are our jobs to do that," said Turnbull.

As many as 344 Australian businessmen will come to Indonesia next week, as part of the visit of Australian Trade Minister Hon Andrew Robb, Prime Minister Turnbull said.

"My government is absolutely committed to building the already strong friendship and strong financial economic relationship, and to keep building on it," he revealed.

On cattle industry, Turnbull assured that both countries are to continue cooperation on the sector, including investment.

Indonesia, as one of Australia's major trading partners, is the biggest destination of Australia wheat export and major destination of Australian cattle and sugar exports. Endit