Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has laid out four key initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Australia. He shared these insights following a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne. "Australia is Indonesia and ASEAN's strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region, where we share a common future and responsibility to maintain stability," he said in a statement on Tuesday (5/3/2024). During the meeting, President Jokowi welcomed the progress of cooperation between the two countries, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Electric Vehicle Collaboration. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in the financial services sector and announced plans to open a state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) representative office in Sydney. President Jokowi highlighted the importance of expanding market access to create more balanced trade, appreciating the permission to import meat and cattle from Australia. "In addition, cooperation in the field of biosecurity for Indonesian products, especially fruits and fisheries, needs to be further promoted, particularly regarding inspection and quarantine aspects," he said. In terms of people-to-people relations, President Jokowi expressed his pleasure at Indonesia's popularity as a destination for Australian students under the New Colombo Plan scheme. Accompanying President Jokowi in the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Siswo Pramono.