Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

It's been a great pleasure and a delight to welcome back President Widodo to a guest-of-government visit to Australia, his fourth since 2014. It was also a privilege to have him address both houses of the parliament this morning. I am also very pleased to welcome my good friend Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and many cabinet colleagues to Canberra today.

Indonesia is a nation of absolutely first-order importance to Australia. It is a dynamic, democratic, diverse nation—a G20 member and the world's largest Muslim nation. It is already a trillion-dollar economy and is predicted to become one of the world's largest economies in coming decades. Australia and Indonesia are both strong regional democracies with a shared vision for a prosperous and open Indo-Pacific underpinned by democratic institutions, rule of law and norms. Most importantly, Indonesia is our neighbour and our friend. In fact, as President Widodo reinforced in his remarks this morning, we are neighbours by destiny but we are friends by choice. More recently, we have become comprehensive strategic partners. We also stand beside each other in adversity, as both the Prime Minister and the President observed in their remarks in the House of Representatives today.

I would also like to acknowledge the 40 members from the Indonesian national armed forces, who are helping with Australia's bushfire recovery—most particularly, in the Blue Mountains in my area of Western Sydney. We also look forward to the ratification and entry into force of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The IA-CEPA will improve trade, tourism, investment and the movement of people. It will facilitate bilateral cooperation in areas including education, agriculture, health and digital commerce. It paves the way for the strongest possible development of the Australia-Indonesia relationship.