Australia, Indonesia sign letters of intent on digital diplomacy and trilateral cooperation

Letters of intent on digital diplomacy and trilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region were signed by Australia and Indonesia in Jakarta on 8 January 2020, the Australian Embassy in Indonesia has advised.

“The Letter of Intent on Digital Cooperation builds on the outcomes of the Regional Conference of Digital Diplomacy that was held by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta in September 2019,” and “is the first step to expanding cooperation between Australia and the recently launched Indonesian Agency for International Development,” a media release states. At present, twelve social media accounts and four websites are collectively operated by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and Consulates-General in Surabaya, Denpasar and Makassar.

“This move provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation between Australia and Indonesia’s vibrant digital sectors,” said Australian Chargé d’Affaires to Indonesia and signatory on the Letters, Allaster Cox. “We want to share our knowledge of how to use digital tools to strengthen our diplomacy and also learn from Indonesia’s experiences.

“Indonesia can play a constructive role in the Indo-Pacific, sharing valuable lessons of its development trajectory and poverty reduction with others in the region, and we look forward to deepening our partnership on these issues through this Letter of Intent.”

“Through this LoI, we put forward a path to understand the development in digital diplomacy and improving our diplomat’s digital-savviness,” Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy and signatory, Mr Cecep Herawan, added. “This LoI also aims to generate further collaboration among countries in the region and a stepping stone to follow up the outcomes of the Regional Conference on Digital Diplomacy.

“Our two countries will work collaboratively to achieve common international development objectives, support the development, in particular, the Pacific Region, and contribute to global development within the framework of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

In Conversation with Dr Dino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and former Indonesian Ambassador to the United States

In Conversation with Odo Manuhutu, director of Sesparlu, the senior diplomatic course for Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs