Foreign Minister Zambry visits Jokowi

JAKARTA, Dec 30 Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir called Indonesian President Joko Widodo during his official visit on Friday.

In the 30-minute meeting held at Istana Merdeka, he was accompanied by the Charge d’Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy, ​​Adlan Mohd Shaffieq, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was also present.

Zambry and Joko Widodo, affectionately known as Jokowi, discussed various bilateral issues such as border demarcation, trade, business, palm oil, Indonesian labor, the situation in Myanmar and Asean.

Speaking to reporters after a visit to the Malaysian embassy, ​​Zambry said he assured efforts to upgrade the labor recruitment and protection system, including a proposal to have a single ministry administer the system.

“I must first take this matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government in the near future,” he said, adding that the matter must be resolved immediately as it often becomes an obstacle to relations between the two countries.

He said that the two border and trade agreements will be fine-tuned in the ministry to be signed in the near future to promote the economy in the border areas.

Regarding palm oil, Zambry said that the cooperation between the countries will be enhanced to overcome the new regulations of the European Union (EU) through, among other things, the ASEAN-EU platform, so that the production of the commodity is not affected.

He also expressed his confidence that under the leadership of Indonesia and Jokowi, Asean will make progress in building a more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable community in 2023.

During the visit, Zambry also met Nahdatul Ulama Yahya Cholil Staquf, Director General and Habibie Center Board of Governors Prof. Dr. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Malaysian Diaspora, Media and Local Business. Bernama