TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi looked forward to greater cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), particularly in supporting energy transition projects. He emphasized the commitment to achieving emission reduction targets.

He conveyed this during a bilateral meeting with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa on the sidelines of the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) High-Level Conference in Bali on Monday, May 20. He also lauded the longstanding 57-year alliance between Indonesia and the ADB.

“I appreciate ADB's support in Indonesia’s energy transition projects, including coal-fired power plant projects,” the President said, as quoted from a written statement released by the Presidential Secretariat.

According to Jokowi, the ADB supported the early retirement of coal-fired power plant projects. The former governor of Jakarta also invited other ADB members to invest in development projects for the new capital city, Nusantara.

He further emphasized Indonesia's commitment to bolstering and contributing to the replenishment of the Asian Development Fund (ADF) 14, which he stated would yield positive ramifications for the Asia-Pacific region.

“Indonesia needs to assume a bigger role in the ADB leadership in the future,” he remarked.

In response to Jokowi's remarks, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa stated that ADB's assistance would persist in joint endeavors to tackle regional challenges, including the energy transition and sustainable infrastructure development.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia accompanied President Jokowi for a bilateral meeting with the ADB.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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