TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, praised Indonesia's plan to convey its Intended National Framework Convention in Climate Change (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on September 24, 2015.

"This is a real contribution from Indonesia as a non-annex countries in tackling climate change," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, in a press release received by Tempo, Sunday, September 27, 2015. Meeting of the two ministers was held on the sidelines of the 70th UN General Assembly in New York.

In this meeting, said Retno, Indonesia expressed its commitment to reduce emissions by 29 percent by 2030, voluntarily or up to 41 percent with the support of the international community

Meeting of the two ministers also discussed the development of economic cooperation. Retno expressed concern with the view in France that Indonesian CPO is not environmentally friendly. However, the two ministers agreed that Indonesia will continue to disseminate information on sustainable palm oil, including during a meeting of the Conference of Parties-21 to UNFCCC (COP 21) on 30 November 2015.

In addition to economic cooperation, Retno requested French support on Indonesia's efforts to obtain short stay visa-free facility for Indonesian citizens to Schengen countries. "French Foreign Minister conveyed his support to Indonesia when this issue was discussed at the EU Commission," she said.

Trade relations between Indonesia and France reached US$ 2.35 billion in 2014. French investment value in Indonesia reached US$ 200 million. The number of French tourists to Indonesia was recorded to reach 194,667 people and the number of Indonesian citizens in France reached 6,049 people.

ARKHELAUS WISNU