Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and New Zealand affirm the importance of equity in access to vaccines for all countries to accelerate the process of freeing the world of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi following a bilateral meeting with her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, in Jakarta on Monday.
"I welcome the heightened health cooperation (between the two countries) during the pandemic," said Minister Marsudi at a virtual press briefing.
As part of the cooperation between the two countries during the pandemic, New Zealand provided Indonesia 684,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the dose-sharing scheme, Marsudi noted. The doses were received last month, she said.
Aside from that, cooperation was also carried out through the Eijkman Molecular Biology Institute to increase COVID-19 testing capabilities, as well as with UNICEF to increase the capacity of public health and medical equipment in Indonesia, she added.
New Zealand demonstrated its support to Indonesia through donations of vaccines as well as ventilators, rapid test kits, and support for the Eijkman Institute, Marsudi said.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand conveyed her appreciation toward her Indonesian counterpart as one of the co-chairs of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment Engagement Group that has played a part in ensuring equal access to vaccines for all nations.
"We agree that close international cooperation is vital, not only in response to the pandemic but also towards economic recovery," said Minister Mahuta.
International cooperation in pandemic handling has become the focus of New Zealand's leadership of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) this year, she noted.
"And I am sure that this will be one of the priority areas for Indonesia in its presidency of the G20 next year," she said.
Aside from bilateral cooperation in health, energy, and economy, the two ministers also discussed regional issues, including the situation in Myanmar and Afghanistan during their meeting.
Indonesia and New Zealand share the same concerns over security and human rights conditions in Afghanistan and Myanmar that are currently facing conflicts, the ministers said.
They also exchanged views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific.
As a dialogue partner to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), New Zealand reaffirmed its commitment towards the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and realizing peace and stability in the region.
"Indo-Pacific is a region that is open for trade and investment, an inclusive region, a region with sovereignty that is respected by all countries, big and small, a region that strives for peace and stability. I reaffirm New Zealand's commitment to the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN as its center, with a region that is based on the law, including UNCLOS," Mahuta said.
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