Boediono meets with Netherlands
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, March 24 2014
Boediono meets with Netherlands
Vice President Boediono met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sunday at his official residence, Catshuis, in The Hague.
During the meeting, Boediono conveyed warm regards from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the Netherlands’ prime minister. The meeting was intended to cover a number of initiatives requiring follow-up after PM Rutte’s official visit to Indonesia in November 2013.
Among the follow-up that has already been conducted is an agreement on RI-Netherlands defense cooperation, which was signed by Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and his counterpart, Netherlands Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Passchaert, in The Hague on Feb. 4.
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands Kingdom Retno L.P. Marsudi and Vice Presidential secretary Mohamad Oemar accompanied Boediono during the meeting.
Meanwhile, PM Rutte was accompanied by Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Lilianne Ploumen and several other officials.
The meeting also covered Infrastructure and Environment Minister Melanie Schultz’s official visit to Indonesia, which is scheduled to take place from March 30 to April 4. Eighteen water management companies will participate in the visit, which is aimed at discussing, among others things, the National Capital Integrated Costal Development (NCICD).
Responding to questions from his Dutch counterpart, Boediono explained that Indonesia’s decision not to extend its bilateral investment treaty with the Netherlands, which will expire in June 2015, was common to all countries with bilateral investment agreements with Indonesia that would soon end.
“Indonesia will create a new bilateral investment agreement that will be adjusted to recent developments,” said Boediono, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Meanwhile, PM Rutte reasserted the readiness of the Netherlands to share experience and increase RI-Dutch partnerships on water management, which was discussed with President Yudhoyono during his visit to Indonesia in November last year. (ebf)
