http://www.gnnliberia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4105:liberia-indonesia-presidents-sign-joint-communique-in-monrovia&catid=34:politics&Itemid=54
Liberia, Indonesia Presidents Sign Joint Communique' In Monrovia Friday, 01 February 2013 08:54 | Written by Ministry of Foreign Affairs The President of the Republic of Liberia, H. E. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H. E. Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held bilateral meeting in Monrovia on January 31, 2013 on the margins of the 3rd Meeting of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda that the two leaders Co-chaired together with Prime Minister, David Cameron of the United Kingdom. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the steady growth of friendly relations and cooperation existing between Indonesia and Liberia. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and President Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held talks on further promoting the bilateral relationship of their two countries. They also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest and reached common understanding on these issues. President Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono commended President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the many development achievements in Liberia under her leadership. The Indonesian President expressed his country’s strong commitment to supporting Liberia in its efforts to consolidate peace, security and achieve national development. For her part, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expressed sincere appreciation for the participation of Indonesia’s Peace Keeping contingent in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The two leaders recalled the historic Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 in which Liberia’s delegation participated and was led by the then Secretary of State, H.E Momolu Dukuly. These facts indicate that Indonesia and Liberia have nurtured warm friendship and close bilateral ties even before the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1965. Both countries reiterated their support for a global order based on political independence, freedom, justice and long-lasting peace among nations. The two Presidents spoke highly of the friendly relations and cooperation between Africa and Asia, and expressed their willingness to work together to promote the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf particularly praised Indonesia’s commitment to a stronger partnership with Africa. Both leaders expressed their commitment to enhance and intensify bilateral trade and investment cooperation. They noted the positive trends of enhanced bilateral trade by 17% in the last two years. They also welcomed the investment cooperation between the two countries particularly the investment projects made by Indonesian companies in Liberia and by some Liberian companies in Indonesia. To further enhance bilateral economic cooperation, both leaders agreed that the relevant ministries/agencies of the two countries shall work together to open up windows of opportunities for intensified trade and investment cooperation involving the private sectors of both countries. President Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed Indonesia’s readiness to offer technical support such as training in agriculture, including rice production, fishery, rubber processing, aqua-culture, furniture production and small and medium enterprise (SME). In the field of education, President Yudhoyono invited Liberian students to participate in some Indonesian scholarship schemes. Both leaders welcomed the signing of the MOU establishing a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) by the Foreign Ministers of Liberia and Indonesia. The JCBC will serve as an important forum to promote bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries. The two leaders instructed their respective Foreign Ministers to optimize the use of the JCBC by meeting regularly at a mutually convenient time and place. The two Presidents also agreed for Liberia and Indonesia to appoint honorary consuls in an effort to further consolidate bilateral economic cooperation as well as to provide consular services and visas. President Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono informed his counterpart of the candidature of Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu for the post of Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the period of 2013-2017. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf welcomed the candidature of Dr. Pangestu and expressed Liberia’s support for her candidature. President Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono invited President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to pay a state visit to Indonesia. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf accepted the invitation. The details will be finalized through diplomatic channels. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the bilateral talks. President Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his appreciation and gratitude to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Government and People of Liberia for their warm hospitality during the visit and for the excellent arrangements of the bilateral talks. DONE in Monrovia on this thirty-first day of January in the year two thousand and thirteen. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
