Indonesian, Malaysian leaders discuss US-China rivalry
ISTANBUL (AA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed the rivalry between the US and China as well as regional issues on Monday.
Widodo hosted Anwar at Bogor presidential palace in Indonesian capital Jakarta in what was the Malaysian premier’s first overseas trip since being inaugurated last November.
“During their 4-hour meeting, both leaders took stock of the progress of bilateral cooperation, explore potential of new cooperation, and promote joint efforts in addressing regional and global challenges,” said a statement by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry on Twitter.
The two sides discussed economic cooperation including Malaysian potential investments in Indonesia, bilateral land border demarcation and maritime border delimitation besides employment and protection of Indonesian migrant workers.
“Both Leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar, rivalry between the United States and China, joint efforts in addressing discrimination against palm oil,” the statement said.
Malaysia and Indonesia are founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The US has recently intensified its diplomacy in South East Asia in order to counter China’s expanding economic and military influence.
Anwar expressed full support to Widodo over Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN which it has assumed this month.
According to Widodo, the two sides signed 11 letters of intent in the fields of electronics, health, waste management, construction and property.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in increasing the palm oil market through the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries, the Indonesian president has said.
Malaysia and Indonesia supply around 85% of the world’s total Palm oil production.
Anwar paid a two-day trip to the world’s largest Muslim nation, where he also delivered a public lecture on “Malaysia-Indonesia Strategic Relations: Challenges and Hopes”, discussing challenges and opportunities in cooperation between the two countries.
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