At the request of President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, President Moon Jae-in and he spoke on the phone for 20 minutes from 3:25 p.m. today.

President Widodo began by congratulating President Moon on the ruling party’s great victory in the recent general election in Korea, saying he was speaking with a joyful heart. He added that the victory won by the ruling party was the result of the people’s trust in President Moon’s leadership.

President Moon replied, “I am grateful to you for extending warm-hearted, supportive congratulations to me as a true friend.” He went on to explain that “Fortunately, improvements in the situation with COVID-19, including a marked decrease in new confirmed cases in Korea recently, were instrumental in holding the nationwide election safely.”

President Widodo said he has come to have profound respect for Korea’s enormous achievement in stemming the spread of COVID-19 recently and expressed the hope that Korea would share its experience with Indonesia.

President Moon replied, “I have been told that the Indonesian Government is exerting its utmost to contain the spread of COVID-19, including the declaration of a national disaster, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths have been increasing.” He then gave a message of consolation and encouragement by saying, “I am convinced that the Indonesian Government and people will join forces and overcome the COVID-19 outbreak at an early date under Your Excellency’s leadership.”

President Moon emphasized, “The most important thing in overcoming COVID-19 is the international community’s close cooperation and solidarity” and said that the Republic of Korea plans to enhance global cooperation further by, among other things, supplying quarantine and medical equipment, sharing its quarantine experience and clinical data, guaranteeing exchanges of businesspeople and other essential personnel and working together to develop treatments and a vaccine.

President Moon went on to explain the current state of Korea’s humanitarian aid to Indonesia, including rechargeable battery sprayers and diagnostic kits. The President added that he would review how to provide additional humanitarian aid in consideration of the special strategic partnership between Korea and Indonesia.

President Widodo expressed his gratitude by noting that Korea-made quarantine supplies are contributing greatly to overcoming COVID-19 in Indonesia and spoke of his desire for the two countries to jointly participate in the international community’s efforts to cope with COVID-19.

President Widodo also expressed hope that the two countries could work together to surmount the current COVID-19 crisis as well as proceed with all previous bilateral agreements on economic collaboration as planned to overcome the post-COVID-19 situation.

President Moon responded, “I fully agree and hope that our two countries will be able to surmount the COVID-19 outbreak successfully. In particular, I am looking forward to our two countries earnestly discussing how to bring the Korea-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement into force at the earliest date to aid our economic recoveries as well as how to cooperate in the defense industry and the relocation of Indonesia’s capital.”

By quoting an Indonesian saying, “Heavy loads we shoulder together, light ones we carry together by hand,” President Moon expressed hope that the two countries will be able to continue to communicate closely with each other and strengthen cooperation even during this difficult time due to COVID-19. President Widodo expressed his agreement before the two leaders concluded their telephone conversation.