President Moon Jae-in and Indonesian President Joko Widodo spoke by phone for 15 minutes from 5 o’clock this afternoon. Chief of the National Security Office Chung Eui-yong was also present.

Indonesian President Widodo said that he joined all Indonesian people in congratulating President Moon on his election. He went on to express his conviction that Korea’s democracy would advance and peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula would be realized with the inauguration of President Moon. Promising to make efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation, President Widodo said that he wanted to take this opportunity to reaffirm the fact that Korea and Indonesia are strategic partners.

President Moon thanked his Indonesian counterpart for calling him to congratulate him even when Indonesia was going through difficulties caused by terrorist bombings that struck a bus terminal in east Jakarta last night. He went on to express his deepest sympathy and condolences to the Indonesian people and bereaved families on the loss of innocent lives in the terrorist bombings. He continued to say that the Korean Government has firm resolve to root out terrorism and is in strong support of the Indonesian Government’s efforts to that end.

In addition, President Moon said he was grateful to the Indonesian President for taking time out of his busy schedule to welcome Special Envoy Park Won-soon. The President continued to say that it was pleasing to see the two nations have steadily expanded exchange and cooperation since the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2006, as President Widodo had pointed out. He also said that the new Administration, and he himself, would strive to further enhance ties with ASEAN member nations to make them on a par with those with the four nations whose interests have traditionally converged on the Korean Peninsula, which was already explained by Special Envoy Park Won-soon. In particular, President Moon expressed the hope that Korea and Indonesia, a leading nation of ASEAN and Korea`s strategic partner, would join forces to ensure that bilateral ties take off to greater heights. 

Speaking of President Widodo’s remarks to the special envoy during his visit to Indonesia on forming an industrial park to encourage Korean companies to expand investment, President Moon expressed the hope that as the plan takes shape, investment in Indonesia by Korean enterprises would be increased. President Moon also said that the two countries were engaged in cooperation over the defense industry, including the development of next generation fighter jets, and that he hoped the bilateral cooperation would be upgraded. Then, the President said he was looking forward to meeting President Widodo in person at such multilateral summits as the G20, APEC and ASEAN.       

President Widodo expressed gratitude to President Moon for his phone call and words of sympathy. Extending an invitation to President Moon to visit Indonesia, President Widodo said the Indonesian public would be delighted if President Moon accepted his invitation.  

In reply, President Moon thanked him for the invitation and said such a visit could be discussed through diplomatic channels. The President expressed hope that President Joko Widodo would be able to visit Korea as well.