Sambutan Acara Jamuan Santap Malam Menghormati Presiden Finlandia

Remarks by
H.E. DR. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of the Republic of Indonesia
At a State Banquet in Honour of
H.E. Mrs. Tarja Halonen
President of the Republic of Finland
Jakarta, 18 February 2008



Your Excellency President Tarja Halonen,
Distinguished Members of the Finnish Delegation,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are very honoured to extend our warmest welcome to President Tarja Halonen and Dr. Pentti Arajarvi and the Finnish Delegation to Jakarta.

You are very much among friends, Madame President. I hope you too will enjoy here in Indonesia the same warmth of friendship that was given to my wife and I when visited you beautiful country in the autumn of 2006.

We still have fond memories of that visit, which coincided with the successful holding of the Summit of the 6th Asia-Europe Meeting in Helsinki.

In the light of the success of that Summit and the achievements of Finland a successful globalized economy, we in Indonesia are proud to be your friends.

For so long, Indonesia knows Finland as a place that is celebrated as the home of Santa Claus, and as the maker of the Nokia hand phone that has become an essential part of the wardrobe of all Indonesians.

But today, Finland means more to us: the mention of Finland evokes a surge of positive feelings for Indonesians. This is because of the positive role that Finland and some of her eminent citizens played in the conclusion of the historic Helsinki Accord that led to the restoration of permanent peace in our Province of Aceh.

Tomorrow when Your Excellency visit Aceh, you will see for yourself how well Aceh has recovered from the tragedy inflicted by the tsunami. You will also see how much progress Aceh has attained in terms of political and socioeconomic development following the advance of peace. And I hope you take pride for having played a part of that peace and progress.

Madame President,
This morning, we have a very productive meeting on bilateral, regional and global issues. It was clear from our discussion today that our relations are solid and strong, and that there is ample room to widen and deepen it.

Indonesia and Finland are passionate believer in the virtue of multilateralism as a necessary vehicle towards a peaceful, just, equitable world.

We both stressed the need for multilateral cooperation in addressing global challenges such climate change. In this interdependent world, there must be an interregional effort to address these challenges.

Hence, we reaffirmed our determination to work closely together in the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). There is no doubt that ASEM has become a major force for global progress, peace and stability. Finland has contributed significantly to that interregional achievement.

At the bilateral level, we identified new areas of cooperation that Finland and Indonesia can explore and tap in a way that will benefit our peoples. We committed to work closer in the fields of trade, investment, energy, sustainable forestry, water management, education, and tourism.

In the economic field, we saw plenty of room for growth in our cooperation-especially in terms of trade and investment. Let me just say in this regard that Indonesia is more than ever a worthy and reliable economic partner of Finland.

For the past several years, Indonesia’s economy showed steady growth. We attained a national economic growth rate of 6.3% in 2007 in spite of sky rocketing oil prices, a weak global economy and a worldwide credit crunch. Inflows of direct and portfolio investments continue to increase as a result of our effort to make our business climate irresistible to investors.

Moreover, our anti-corruption drive has been scoring one success after another. We have driven fear into the heart of corruptors. We have thus give a solid boost to the cause of good governance and economic development.

I am therefore glad that you brought along a sizeable business delegation. I trust that during the business meeting this afternoon, our respective private business sectors will strongly address the nitty-gritty of our economic relationship.

One are when Indonesia and Finland can work closely is the global challenge of climate change and sustainable forestry. Indonesia is one the planet’s critical carbon sinks, and Finland has a great deal of expertise and know-how on sustainable forestry.

It is thus entirely fitting that this morning we witnessed the signing of a Joint Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Forest Management.

I therefore look forward to rapid growth in our technical cooperation in forestry. I also look forward to Finland and Indonesia working hard together to promote climate stability by advancing the Bali Roadmap toward the establishment of a Post-Kyoto climate regime in 2009.

And I expect to see our two countries working intensively in the months ahead in a wide range of fields for the good of our peoples and for the welfare of humankind. After all, though we are half a world apart, two nations are spiritual twins in terms of political ideals and a deep love and caring for nature.

Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I now request everyone to join me in a toast to the health and success of Her Excellency President Tarja Halonen and to the progress and prosperity of our two nations?


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Bureau for Press and Media Affairs
Presidential Household