Vice President meets with with Indian Vice President

Jakarta-wapresri.go.id On the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders’ Summit 2017, Vice President Jusuf Kalla held a bilateral meeting with Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Tuesday (Mar. 7).

In the meeting, Vice President Ansari said, this summit marked a new chapter for cooperation in the region, given that this high level meeting is the first since IORA was founded 20 years ago.

Ansari also underscored, this association is important for the region since it covers 26 countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Of the 26 countries bordering the Indian Ocean, 21 countries have been incorporated in IORA.

“We believe that all countries in the Indian Ocean region will one day join the IORA because it will bring benefits to all parties,” said Ansari.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla in response expressed his hopes regarding the establishment of a peaceful and secure Indian Ocean. He then compared the region to the South China Sea which is still fraught with conflicts.

“If all parties work together, there will be enough space and resources for all parties and all will benefit from them,” argued the Vice President.

Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world passed by more than half the world’s container ships, one-third of bulk cargo ships, and two-thirds of the world’s oil ships.

Present along with Vice President Ansari in the meeting were Secretary Swashpawan Singh, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Indonesia Nengcha Lhorvum, Secretary Amar Sinha, Joint Secretary Jaideep Majumdar, and Deputy Chief of Mission Manish. Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Agung, Health Minister Nila Moeloek, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong, and Head of the Secretariat of the Vice President Mohamad Oemar.