Langgam Pos - The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Puan Maharani, announced that the Indonesia-Pacific Parliamentary Partnership (IPPP) meeting will include a dialogue session with Melanesian nations.
The IPPP, initiated by the DPR RI, is a parliamentary forum involving Indonesia and Pacific island countries.
"Eight parliamentary leaders from twelve countries and one regional organization, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, are attending the second IPPP meeting," said Puan Maharani in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
The second IPPP session is scheduled to take place from July 24-26, 2024, in Jakarta. The event will be officially opened on Thursday morning, July 25, 2024, by Puan Maharani, with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expected to attend the opening ceremony.
According to Puan, the primary aim of the IPPP session is to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy in building cooperation with Pacific countries in priority areas such as maritime issues, the blue economy, connectivity, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"Another goal is to reinforce the Pacific elevation strategy, which we interpret as Indonesia's ongoing effort to enhance and solidify its presence through friendship and partnerships with Pacific countries," she explained.
The second IPPP session in Jakarta will feature the theme "Partnership for Prosperity: Fostering Regional Connectivity and Inclusive Development." During the IPPP meetings, Pacific parliaments will discuss various global issues.
Key topics at the second IPPP session will include addressing climate change, promoting sustainable development, and supporting the blue economy and sustainable tourism.
"Pacific parliaments will also discuss strengthening the roles of women and youth, fostering friendships, and enhancing cross-cultural cooperation. The event will also host a parliamentary dialogue with Melanesian nations within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)," Puan elaborated.
Indonesia's Integral Role in the Pacific Community
Several eastern Indonesian provinces, including Maluku, North Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and six provinces in Papua, are part of the Pacific region and share Melanesian roots.
"Indonesia is an inseparable part of the Pacific community, both in terms of identity and geography," Puan Maharani emphasized.
In addition to Indonesia, the parliamentary dialogue among MSG members will include leaders from Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. Puan believes that the solidarity among Melanesian countries can further develop through the IPPP meeting.
"IPPP can complement the regional architecture of cooperation in the Pacific, promoting open and inclusive partnerships," said the first woman to serve as Speaker of the DPR.
IPPP delegates have started arriving in Jakarta today. Besides Indonesia, Pacific parliaments attending the second IPPP include representatives from the Cook Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Republic of Fiji.
Parliaments from Vanuatu, Nauru, Palau, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia were unable to attend the invitation.
Puan also highlighted the importance of parliamentary roles in influencing foreign policy in their respective countries.
"Therefore, I believe that this IPPP meeting can add value to the relationships between Pacific countries and Indonesia," concluded the granddaughter of Bung Karno.
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