Opening Remarks, Australia-Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers' Meeting

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Well, can I welcome Pak Sugiono and Pak Sjafrie, on behalf of Penny and I, to Melbourne today for this year's 2+2. This is the first 2+2 meeting that we are having since the signing of the Jakarta Treaty in February of this year, which was a significant, historically significant, moment in our bilateral relationship. And I know that on behalf of Penny and I, we are really looking forward to the discussions today to work out how we can operationalise the Treaty so that it really does fulfil the aspirations that we both have for it, in terms of bringing our two countries as closely together as possible. If you just look at our respective geographies, the state of our bilateral relationship has an enormous influence on the national security of both Australia and Indonesia. And I think it's fair to say that the state of that relationship today has never been better and it is playing the role that we would both want it to play in terms of providing for the security of both of our countries. So, we are very much looking forward to continuing that conversation today. We are both countries, maritime nations, that are deeply invested in the rules-based order around the world, but within our region. Today, in the meeting that Pak Sjafrie and I had, we were able to have a virtual trilateral meeting with our Japanese counterpart, Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and that was all about ways in which we can all work together to promote the rules-based order within the Indo-Pacific. Finally, can I just pass on my condolences, or our condolences I should say, for the earthquake that has occurred in the Flores Islands, as well as the bushfires that are occurring in Kalimantan. We know that ours sadly is a region which is prone to natural disasters and we are very mindful of what's occurred there and our condolences very much go out to the families who are affected. In saying all of that, we are really looking forward to today's meeting and you are both very much welcome and honoured guests here in Melbourne and in our country.

PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER: Selamat datang di Melbourne. I'll just add some brief comments to say we're very pleased and honoured to have you both here and to return the hospitality you have extended to us previously, and to say that we do see the Jakarta Treaty as not just a new chapter but a new level in our relationship. But we are also very mindful of the message from the Welcome to Country today that when we come to this meeting we should come with respect, wisdom and with an eye to the next generation. So to say to you, we see the Jakarta Treaty as something we will continue to build on for the next generation of Indonesian and Australian leaders. Because ultimately, Australia understands absolutely that our security and our stability and our prosperity starts in our region, and there's no country more important to that than Indonesia. Terima Kasih.

SUGIONO, INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Thank you, excellencies, honourable Richard Marles and honourable Penny Wong. It is a great pleasure for us to be here again in Australia. Thank you very much for the very warm welcome. And as you mentioned, the relations between both countries are very, very important and strategic. And I want to quote what my President always says about the relations with Australia, that we are destined to be neighbours, we are destined to be together, and of course that calls for greater cooperation and stronger relations between Indonesia and Australia. And I think this mechanism of this meeting, with the relations implemented, and as you mentioned we talk and discuss things that will be applicable to not only our bilateral relations but also for the generations to come. And allow me also to thank you for the kind words you give us in the wake of the earthquake [inaudible] and also for the challenge of forest fires that we are having. And thank you very much for the sympathy, we are grateful for that. I would like also to say our great appreciation for the Australian Government and the Australian people on the congratulatory messages, from the Prime Minister, on the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence. It is really a great show of friendship and partnership, and we really value that a lot. And it is also one milestone that shows the great relations with the two countries. Thank you again very much.

SJAFRIE SJAMSOEDDIN, INDONESIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: Terima kasih. Thank you very much, your Excellencies. Deputy Prime Minister, Pejabat Defence, Minister of Defence of Australia. Ibu Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and delegates and members of media. It's a great pleasure for us to be in Melbourne, especially for this 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers. Now, there has been the development of our relationship between Indonesia and Australia, especially the Jakarta Treaty in February this year. On the defence side, Indonesia looks forward to advancing the implementation of the Treaty, as well as the progress of our defence cooperation agreement.  Today, in the morning, I had a meeting with Pejabat about our defence relationship, not only for the defence relationship, but for the countries’ relationship between Indonesia and Australia. On that basis, I'm confident that our partnership will continue to contribute not only for the security of our two countries, but the peace and stability in our shared region. Thank you very much.

ENDS