Indonesia asks US for ‘concrete’ Indo-Pacific cooperation

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks on the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific strategy at the Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta on Dec 14, 2021. - AFP

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Indonesia has expressed hope for concrete Indo-Pacific cooperation with the United States, whose top diplomat was in Jakarta as part of a charm offensive in South-East Asia, where China has a sustained presence.

After paying a courtesy call on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo after touching down in Jakarta on Monday (Dec 13), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Indonesian counterpart Retno LP Marsudi for their second bilateral meeting on Tuesday, emphasising his country’s “strong commitment” to the strategic partnership with Indonesia.