TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan welcomed the visit of the new United States Ambassador, Sung Yong Kim, at his residence on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

During the occasion, Luhut expressed his hopes for the strengthening of strategic cooperation between Indonesia and the U.S.

“Especially in the investment of infrastructure, energy, and connectivity sector, considering that the U.S. has a long history in Indonesia before Indonesia’s independence,” said Luhut on his official Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

Indonesia and the U.S. are also old friends who help each other through thick and thin, Luhut said. Thus, the two countries could naturally become strategic partners as both are democratic nations that uphold tolerance and diversity.

“I think there will be many programs that can be carried out together with the United States in the future, especially on how Indonesia and the U.S can join hands in dealing with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and economic sectors,” Luhut Pandjaitan said.

Sung Yong Kim had officially handed over the Letters of Credentials to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on October 21, 2020. The submission of the letter marked the start of his assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia, replacing the previous Ambassador, Joseph R. Donovan Jr.

CAESAR AKBAR