Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan visited Indonesia from January 20 to 22. Minister Yu met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and paid a courtesy call on Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
 
The two Foreign Ministers appreciated the cooperative relationship between Korea and Indonesia demonstrated in bilateral summit held last year on the sidelines of the G20, high-ranking officials exchange, bilateral trade volume of 18.5 billion dollars per year and Korea’s investment in Indonesia of 300 million dollars.

Minister Yu and Minister Hassan agreed to further enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries based on common values, such as democracy and market economy. In particular, they agreed to reinvigorate bilateral cooperation through multiple aspects, such as joint committee, private-government economic cooperation task force, and energy and forestry forums.

In the meeting, Korea's plan to gradually expand the volume of Official Development Assistance was discussed and Minister Yu expressed the will to promote development cooperation that meets the development strategy and demand of Indonesia, an important ODA partner of Korea.
 
Foreign Minister Yu spoke about the Korea-ASEAN Commemorative Summit to be held in Jeju Island in June 2009 and joint projects between Korea and the ASEAN including the Korea-ASEAN Center scheduled to open in March 2009 and the Eminent Persons Group of the ASEAN that recently started its operation. The two ministers promised to cooperate for a success of the Korea-ASEAN Commemorative Summit.

While exchanging views on ways to cooperate at G20 regarding the global financial crisis as well as key international issues, such as climate change, they also pledged to further strengthen bilateral cooperation at the international stage, such as the United Nations.

Minister Yu explained the latest development of the North Korea’s nuclear issue made at the recent Six-party Talks and requested continued interest of the Indonesian government. Minister Hassan Wirajuda expressed his willingness to support the Korean government’s efforts in this regard.