Foreign Ministry Holds Meeting with Overseas Representatives

Jakarta, Feb 2 (Antara) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a working meeting with all Indonesian representatives stationed abroad to formulate the foreign policy for the next five years. Held at the Pancasila building on Pejambon Street, the working meeting was jointly opened by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. "It is a great honor for the Diplomatic Corps of the Republic of Indonesia that the president is present at this working meeting with the heads of Indonesian representatives abroad," Minister Retno stated in her opening address. The working meeting themed, "Diplomacy for People: Confirming the Presence of the State in the Foreign Policy" aims to harmonize the steps and strategies pertaining to Indonesia's foreign policy and diplomacy. Retno stated that the relevant ministers, officials, and stakeholders will give a debriefing and interact with the leaders of all Indonesian overseas representatives. "It is expected that the Indonesian diplomats will be able to speak in one voice and move in motion for the interest of the nation," she noted. The foreign affairs minister further noted that based on the president and vice president's vision and mission regarding the nation's development, the president's directive in the cabinet plenary session on October 27, 2014, and the realization as a maritime nation, the Indonesian foreign policy will focus on four areas: to protect the sovereignty of Indonesia, to protect the citizens of Indonesia and Indonesian legal entities, to step up economic diplomacy including maritime diplomacy, and to improve Indonesia's role at the regional and international level. Minister Retno remarked that during the next five years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will apply diplomacy to push forward the interests of the people and the nation. "The work of Indonesian diplomats should benefit the people of Indonesia and contribute to world peace and prosperity," the minister added.