Indonesia and Australia seek stronger ties through parliamentary diplomacy

Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), is advocating for strengthened parliamentary diplomacy to bolster the partnership between Indonesia and Australia. During a meeting with Australian Senate President Senator Sue Lines at Parliament House in Canberra, Yudhoyono emphasized that bilateral relations should extend beyond government-to-government communication to include robust legislative dialogue and people-to-people interaction.

Key areas identified for cooperation through parliamentary channels include economic, security, education, and cultural sectors. Specifically, the discussions highlighted the importance of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) in optimizing trade and investment. Other priorities include institutional exchange to strengthen democracy and governance, as well as fostering regional stability and public welfare through closer cooperation between the two nations.