JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo began the agenda of his working visit to Italy by holding bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Rome on Saturday.
At the meeting, which took place at the Splendide Royal Hotel, the two leaders discussed several issues ranging from Covid-19 vaccinations, economic recovery, to climate change.
“For bilateral ties, I am glad to see the continued progress. First, let me convey our appreciation for Australia’s assistance of 1.2 million vaccine doses, which arrived (in Indonesia) last week, and we warmly welcome the planned shipment of 10.5 million vaccine doses from Australia,” President Widodo said in a written statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.
The current condition of Covid-19 in Indonesia is very good, with the positivity rate below one percent and more than 185 million vaccines administered, he added.
“Of equal importance, we still uphold the health protocols,” he said.
The positive trend in the handling of Covid-19 has offered a chance to the two neighbouring states to think of economic recovery, including in the tourism sector, he noted.
To that end, he proposed the creation of an Indonesia-Australia vaccinated travel lane (VTL) and cooperation for mutual recognition of vaccination certificates.
“I know that the foreign ministers of the two countries have begun communicating the possibility of the cooperation. May VTL and mutual recognition of vaccination certificates materialise soon. I believe this will accelerate economic recovery,” he said.
