TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with the Australian Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese in the Australian Parliament House, Canberra, during his state visit today, February 10.

In the meeting with Albanese, who is also the Australian parliament opposition, the President conveyed his appreciation for the support of the Labor Party in cementing the bilateral ties of Indonesia-Australia.

“I truly appreciate the commitment of the Labor Party to back the bilateral partnership of the two countries, as well as the sovereignty and the unity of the Republic of Indonesia,” said Jokowi as quoted from the statement released by the Presidential Press Bureau.

Jokowi said before Albanese that Indonesia was striving to boost the people’s welfare, human rights protection, and equal development, including in Papua and West Papua provinces.

The state head further lauded the support of the Australian parliament opposition for the ratification of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

“We must work hard together to implement IA-CEPA so that it will benefit people of the two countries,” Jokowi said. “We have finished the Plan of Action that is part of the 2020-2024 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

During the 100 days of President Jokowi’s second-term administration with VP Ma’ruf Amin, several civil coalition groups gave the government’s performance a bad score since the resolution of the past human rights issues was not put in a priority.

DEWI NURITA