The relationship between the Czech Republic and Indonesia is set to strengthen as the Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babis, pays a visit to President Joko Widodo. The two leaders are scheduled to discuss various issues, including trade, investment, and political collaboration. This visit is the latest in a series of diplomatic efforts aimed at increasing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. As the world continues to battle the pandemic and its effects on the global economy, the talks come at a crucial time when countries are seeking to forge new partnerships and deepen existing relationships.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) welcomed the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, during a courtesy call at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Tuesday. The visit by Fiala was a follow-up to their bilateral meeting held in Brussels, Belgium on December 14, 2022, where they discussed several cooperation issues concerning the economy, defense and strategic industry, as well as the Indo-Pacific region.
Upon the arrival of the Czech Prime Minister at around 4:10 p.m. Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB), President Jokowi greeted him in the courtyard of the palace. Jokowi then invited Fiala to fill the guest book and enter the Veranda Room. Following this, they planted a camphor tree (Dryobalanops lanceolata) in the backyard of the palace, symbolizing the strong and long-lasting bilateral relationship between the two countries.
To further strengthen the ties between the two countries, President Widodo and Prime Minister Fiala toured the Bogor Botanical Gardens in a golf car, which was driven by Jokowi for about 15 minutes. During their tour, they discussed various initiatives to improve the economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The two heads of state and their entourage also held a bilateral meeting, where they discussed the importance of accelerating the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) and the realization of investment plans of Czech investors in Indonesia. President Widodo highlighted the need to increase strategic defense and industry cooperation through joint production, technology transfer, and investment for developing the defense manufacturing industry.
At the meeting in Brussels, President Widodo praised the Czech Republic’s participation in the Indo Defense 2022 Expo & Forum, a defense technology exhibition hosted by the Indonesian Defense Ministry on November 2–5, 2022, in Jakarta. The President invited the Czech government to participate in the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Forum (AIPIF), which is scheduled to be held in Jakarta on September 6-7, 2023.
The Czech Republic and Indonesia have a long-standing diplomatic relationship that has seen cooperation in various fields, including wildlife preservation, cybersecurity, and infrastructure development. The visit by the Czech Prime Minister to Indonesia is expected to further enhance the diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.
In conclusion, the visit of the Czech Prime Minister to Indonesia and the subsequent meeting with President Widodo is a promising sign of the long-standing relationship between the two nations. With continued joint efforts, the partnership between Indonesia and the Czech Republic will continue to grow and thrive for years to come.
