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Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 | The United States – Indonesia Society (USINDO) hosted a conference entitled "The 2009 U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership: Engaging the Non-Government Sector." The conference provided an opportunity for the Indonesian public to offer recommendations on the content for the forthcoming partnership between the two countries. It brought some of Indonesia’s foremost thinkers and citizens together to discuss how the government and non-government sectors can cooperate on substantive recommendations and programs for the partnership. It followed from a USINDO conference held in Washington, DC in April, which outlined initial priorities for a partnership.
An Indonesia-U.S. comprehensive partnership for the 21st century was first proposed by President Yudhoyono in a speech at the United States-Indonesia Society (USINDO) in Washington last November. Shortly after the inauguration of President Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton committed the U.S. to work on such a partnership with a concrete agenda.
The content of the partnership will frame U.S.-Indonesia bilateral relations for years to come. Issues of importance to both nations to be covered in the partnership include expanding educational exchanges, cooperating in business and investment cooperation, mitigating climate change, joint scientific research, and food security, among others. Thus, the partnership is an opportunity to deepen the relationship for the mutual benefit of people in both countries.
A bilateral partnership with strong foundations, particularly between two of the world’s largest democracies, is not the task of governments alone -- it should also involve the public and civil society in both countries. The non-government sector can provide important input on content; the USINDO conference aimed to do just this.
The conference focused on four topics: Business Cooperation and Priorities for Partnership in Trade and Investment, Cooperation on Forest and Peat Land Management to Address Climate Change , Joint Strategies to Promote Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, and Prospects for Partnership Abroad in Democracy Assistance. Each panel featured top thinkers, and engaged the audience in a discussion of priority and concrete recommendations for the governments and the non-government sectors to deepen the bilateral relationship in ways most beneficial to the two peoples. Experts presented recommendations on partnership goals and programs between the United States and Indonesia on these issues for the benefit of both peoples, and invited the public to provide feedback and additional comments. The concluding session included an update on the successful expansion of educational exchanges.
Opening remarks were made by Arifin Siregar, former Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, and co-chair of USINDO. Ambassador Siregar noted that expectations are very high that the already successful bilateral relationship will be deepened with a comprehensive partnership, and that both publics must work together with the governments to ensure it is a success.
Economic Councilor Peter Haas of the U.S. Embassy noted that President SBY’s recent speech at Harvard University focused on the importance of soft power, and that this forthcoming partnership is an example of "a collaborative effort to use soft power" to deepen a relationship. A relationship, he said, is "built on an entire web of ties between two countries; both on the government and non-government side."
USINDO president David Merrill noted also that "a bilateral partnership, particularly between two of the world’s largest democracies, is not the task of governments alone -- it should also involve the public and civil society in both countries."
Special guest speaker Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Spokesperson to President Susilo Bambang, spoke on the topic: "The Comprehensive Partnership: Making it Work." In his discussion he focused on the policy process and challenges faced by this partnership: "You write today what you want, not for today, but for tomorrow... We must ask ourselves: how can [the partnership] be relevant globally? Can we harness this opportunity with a new mindset?"
Closing remarks were made by Bunyan Saptomo, Director for North America and Central America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU).
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