On President
Joko Widodo’s Inauguration
19 October 2014
Today I am going to Indonesia for
the Inauguration of its new President – Joko Widodo.
The transition to a new
administration highlights Indonesia’s successful move to a popularly elected
democracy.
The inauguration is an important
occasion for Indonesia – and also for Australia because Indonesia is a hugely
important neighbour. It has the world’s largest Muslim population, it is the
world’s third largest democracy and, along with India, it’s the emerging
democratic superpower of Asia.
Almost one million Australians
visit Indonesia, including Bali, every year and over 17,000 Indonesian students
study here in Australia each year.
On present trends, Indonesia will
be the fourth biggest economy in the world by mid-century.
Yet despite this, two-way trade
with Indonesia is only $15 billion. In fact, our two-way trade with New
Zealand, with just four million people, exceeds our current two-way trade with
Indonesia and its 250 million people.
This is why I have often said
that our foreign policy needs a “Jakarta” focus rather than a “Geneva” one.
As Prime Minister, my first
overseas visit was to Jakarta and this is my fourth visit to Indonesia. I will
visit many more times because this relationship is fundamental to Australia.
The Government is taking other
steps to strengthen this vital relationship.
There’s the New Colombo Plan, which will see more young Australians study in
Indonesia.
There’s the new Australia
Indonesia Centre at Monash University which promotes greater understanding of
Indonesia and its importance to us.
And we have restored the live
cattle trade which is now back to its pre-cancellation peak.
The outgoing President, President
Yudhoyono has been a great friend of Australia. He has been a friend to
successive Australian Prime Ministers since John Howard.
President Jokowi now takes office
with enormous goodwill – in his own country and in ours.
Australia wants the new President
to succeed – because a strong, prospering, democratic Indonesia has so much to
offer the world.
I look forward to meeting Joko
Widodo tomorrow and to further strengthening this relationship with our most
important neighbour. |
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