By Kim Young Deok and Yoon Sojung
President Moon Jae-in, in a telephone conversation with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on April 21, expressed his administration's willingness to offer additional cooperation to help Indonesia overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Widodo said he has developed "profound respect for Korea's enormous achievement in stemming the spread of COVID-19 recently," expressing hope that this experience can be shared with Indonesia.
Responding with words of comfort and encouragement for Jakarta's effort to contain the disease, President Moon said, "The most important thing in overcoming COVID-19 is the international community's close cooperation and solidarity."
He also said Korea will bolster global cooperation by providing disinfection materials and medical equipment, sharing its quarantine experience and clinical data, and collaborating to develop vaccines and medicine. He added that Seoul will consider additional humanitarian aid to Indonesia in consideration of the special strategic partnership between both nations.
President Widodo thanked Korea for sending disinfection materials, saying, "Korea-made quarantine supplies are contributing greatly to overcoming COVID-19 in Indonesia."
Citing the Indonesian saying "Heavy loads we shoulder together, light ones we carry together by hand," President Moon said he hopes the two countries can continue communicating closely with each other and strengthening cooperation even during this difficult time due to COVID-19.
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