Joint Statement of the 2nd Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Indonesia
The 2nd Meeting of the Joint Commission for the Bilateral Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Indonesia was conducted on 10-11 February 2025 in Jakarta. The Uzbekistan delegation was led by H.E. Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who was also accompanied by Senior Officials of the Uzbekistan Government. The Indonesian delegation was led by H.E. Sugiono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. He was accompanied by Senior Officials of the Indonesian Government.
The two Ministers have comprehensively discussed the advancement of various important bilateral issues, including political, security, trade, investment, tourism, connectivity, social and cultural matters. They also had in depth dialogue on regional and global issues of mutual concerns particularly the situation in Palestine and Afghanistan. Both Ministers adopted a Plan of Action to follow up on priority programs agreed upon in the Joint Commission Meeting.
Both Ministers are pleased to witness the long-standing relations and friendship between Uzbekistan and Indonesia, and the cordial diplomatic relations that have been established for more than 32 years. This Second Meeting of the Joint Commission demonstrates strong bilateral cooperation between the two countries to be emboldened towards elevation into a higher level.
Political and Security Cooperation
The two ministers emphasized the importance of conducting high level visits between the two leaders. They further encouraged regular convening of bilateral mechanisms, including this Joint Commission, and the Committee on the Bilateral Consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as other Ministerial and Senior Officials’ meetings to advance the relations between the two countries.
They are pleased to note that Uzbekistan and Indonesia have organized several senior officials’ bilateral consultations including the latest 8th Meeting of the Committee on Bilateral Consultations conducted in 2020. They emphasized the importance of the renewed MoU on the Establishment of the Committee on the Bilateral Consultations signed in September 2024, as a solid modality to accelerate the progress of the bilateral cooperation.
They acknowledged the rapid growth in the exchange of visits and meetings between the two governments’ officials these recent years. They pleased to note among other, the meeting between the President of Uzbekistan and the President of Indonesia on the sideline of COP-28 in Dubai in December 2023, the official visit of the Vice President of Indonesia to Uzbekistan in 2023, the meetings between the Uzbekistan Foreign Affairs Minister and the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister in New York September 2024 and in Doha February 2020, the visits of Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy to Uzbekistan in 2023, and the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan / Minister of Agriculture and Water Resource to Indonesia in 2017.
Both Ministers also noted various visits of the members of parliaments and businesses from Indonesia to Uzbekistan and vice versa, and shared the same view on the importance to develop certain bilateral parliamentarian and business mechanisms to strengthen the ongoing cooperation.
Consular Cooperation
The two Ministers signed the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on Visa Exemption for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders, during this meeting. They expressed confidence that this agreement would facilitate more frequent meetings between officials and parliamentarians which lead to further deepening of bilateral ties between the two countries.
Economic Cooperation
Both Ministers pleased to note the significant increase in the bilateral trade relations between the two countries during the past 5 years. The two countries have generated a total trade value of US$ 147.6 million in 2024, and US$ 141 million in 2023, a significant increase from US$ 82.5 in 2022. They desired to seize this momentum of growth and agreed to the expedited conclusion of the Agreement on Trade and Investment Cooperation in order to establish the Joint Working Group on Trade. They also welcomed the initiative to conduct a joint feasibility study to establish a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.
The two Ministers shared the same view on the need to boost investment figures between the two countries, among others, started the discussion to review and implement the 1996 Bilateral Investment Treaty between Uzbekistan and Indonesia. They both discussed matters on investment related to food and energy security in Uzbekistan and Indonesia. Uzbekistan invites investments from Indonesia in the downstream sectors of minerals and extraction commodities, and seeks to explore investment opportunities in Indonesia.
They also encouraged the implementation of the existing 1996 Agreement on the Establishment of the Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation (JCETC) between the two countries to deepen economic engagement. Both sides welcomed the convening of “the Uzbekistan – Indonesia Business Forum: Creating Opportunities and Strengthening Partnership” organized by Uzbekistan’s Embassy in Jakarta and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce on 11 February 2025. They recognized this business meeting as a constructive measure to tap opportunities and potentials in developing bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and tourism. They believed that such B2B meetings could be held more regularly with cooperation of the JCETC to encourage more mutual visits and engagements between both chambers of commerce and industry as well as the state-owned companies of the two countries.
On the facilitation of trade, they encouraged the finalization of the MoU on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Cooperation and Certification Matters between the two countries. They also encouraged more concrete implementation of the Agreement on Conformity Assessment of Products, Standardization, Metrology and Technical Assistance between Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
The Indonesian side congratulated Uzbekistan on the successful convening of the 4th World Conference on the Creative Economy, held in Tashkent in October 2024 and encouraged further implementation of the MoU on Creative Economy Cooperation.
The two Ministers expressed with delight the growing numbers of tourist visits and people-to-people exchanges between Uzbekistan and Indonesia today, which have surpassed the pre-pandemic figures. They emphasized the importance of cooperation on the promotion of the tourism sector, including the conclusion of the MoU on Tourism between the two countries.
They recognized the vital role of connectivity in enhancing trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between Uzbekistan and Indonesia. In this regard, they emphasized the need to maintain and further develop the direct flights and connectivity between the two countries, seeing it as an important factor toward further strengthening bilateral ties and fostering closer engagement.
Social and Cultural Cooperation
Both Ministers praised the close cultural, religious and people-to-people ties that exist between the two nations, particularly during the ancient spread of Islam from Uzbekistan to Indonesian archipelago and the pilgrimage visit of the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno to Imam Bukhari’s grave in 1956 in Samarkand. Indonesia is currently exploring the establishment of Soekarno Garden in Samarkand.
They emphasized the importance of developing higher education cooperation in view of the existing interactions among universities from both countries. They further welcomed the initiative to establish an umbrella agreement between the Ministry of Higher Education of the two countries.
The Ministers noted with encouragement the significant exchanges of scholarships between two countries. The Indonesian side has provided scholarship schemes for Uzbekistan nationals, namely Darmasiswa, Developing Countries Cooperation (KNB), and Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship (BSBI). The Uzbekistan side has also granted postgraduate scholarships for Indonesian nationals in Silk Road International University of Tourism in Samarkand.
The two Ministers lauded the exchange program on various sports cooperation including weightlifting, kurash, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, and in particular pencak silat, an Indonesian traditional martial art. Uzbekistan Federation of Pencak Silat (UFPS) recorded more than 7,000 pencak silat’s athletes in Uzbekistan. The two Ministers encouraged more intensive cooperation in Pencak Silat and welcomed the idea to establish an umbrella agreement on sport cooperation.
Regional and International Issues
The Ministers exchanged views on the recent development in Palestine, expressing concerns over the evolving situation. Both countries are committed to support the plight of the Palestinian people and continue to deliver humanitarian aid in Palestine. They attached great importance to the realization of a permanent ceasefire and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The two Ministers also addressed the situation in Afghanistan, particularly their concern over the dire economic and humanitarian condition. They both encouraged international communities to put more effort in helping the Afghan people and urged the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to fulfill their commitment to the international community.
Both Ministers welcomed the existing close coordination between Uzbekistan and Indonesia in all multilateral fora including the UN and the OIC. They emphasized the importance of South-South Cooperation and agreed to work together on issues of importance to the Global South, the priorities and concerns of the developing world. They also shared a commitment to continue mutual support in multilateral fora.
