Press Release From The White House

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO  OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA  BEFORE BILATERAL BREAKFAST MEETING

Toronto Convention Center

Toronto, Canada

8:27 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good morning, everybody.  Selamat pagi.

It is wonderful once again to see my good friend, the President of Indonesia, and members of his delegation.  I obviously have enjoyed our interactions here, although my hope and wish was that I was going to be seeing him in Jakarta.  Because of the crisis that we’ve had in the Gulf, I’ve had to delay the trip.  But graciously, for a second time now, the President has re-extended the invitation, and I am confident that we are going to get there.

We’re having breakfast this morning because the friendship between Indonesia and the United States has always been strong, and it is our intention to continue to make it even stronger.  Working within the G20, we have been able to stabilize the world economy.  I was just hearing from the President the progress that’s been made in getting back to pre-crisis levels in Indonesia with respect to economic growth and employment, inflation.  But obviously, we have many challenges that still have to proceed.

Two areas where we are particularly interested in working together is on the issue of climate change, where we are helping to create a climate change study center in Indonesia that I think can provide enormous support for not only studies there but also in the region and around the world.

And the second area is education, where we’re looking to put an additional $160 million into joint programs that can enhance cooperation on educating our youth, which is obviously one of our top priorities in terms of future development.

So I just want to once again thank the President for his graciousness, his cooperation, and reaffirm the great friendship between our two countries.

Mr. President.

PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO:  Thank you.  Good morning.  I am very pleased to meet again once again Barack Obama this morning to discuss issues of common interest, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Indonesia and America are entering and developing a comprehensive partnership which is elevating and transforming our relations based on the equal partnership and aim to meet the challenges of the 21st century — promoting peace, reforming the world economy, addressing climate change, as well as promoting harmony among civilizations.  A stable, dynamic, and strong relations between Indonesia and the U.S. is good for our region and for our world.

I appreciate the leadership of President Barack Obama and I thank to him for his friendship and goodwill toward Indonesia.

I want to thank you.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Okay.  Thank you, everybody.

END           8:33 A.M. EDT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2010

The U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership

The Comprehensive Partnership is a long-term commitment by Presidents Obama and Yudhoyono to broaden, deepen and elevate bilateral relations between the United States and Indonesia.  It recognizes the global significance of enhanced cooperation between the world’s second and third largest democracies, the tremendous possibilities for economic and development cooperation, and the importance of fostering exchanges and mutual understanding between two of the world’s most diverse nations.

We have made significant progress since work began on the Partnership in mid-2009.  Together we launched a Peace Corps program that will promote understanding between the Indonesian and American people.  Our two governments signed agreements for Science and Technology Cooperation and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, which will underpin deepened engagement by our two countries in two of the most dynamic sectors of our relationship.  The U.S. Department of Defense and the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a Framework Arrangement on Cooperative Activities in the Field of Defense that will enhance the quality of security cooperation.  Most recently, Ex-Im Bank Chairman Hochberg announced in Jakarta on June 18 a $1 billion credit facility in partnership with 11 Indonesian banks to facilitate bilateral trade.

We have also seen unprecedented levels of high-level consultation and engagement on bilateral, regional, and global issues.  This is the second bilateral meeting between the two Presidents in the past eight months.  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates met with Indonesian Minister of Defense Purnomo in Singapore on June 4^th to discuss ways to deepen our already robust security cooperation. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke led the first cabinet-level trade mission to Indonesia May 25-26, promoting U.S. exports in a broad range of clean energy technologies.  Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the “Breathe Easy Jakarta” initiative, partnering with the Jakarta regional government to assess and reduce key sources of urban air pollution in Jakarta.  Science Envoy Bruce Alberts explored new areas for cooperation in Science and Technology during a visit to Indonesia in May.  Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns and Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero visited Indonesia and engaged their Indonesian counterparts in wide-ranging strategic dialogues.

The U.S. Secretary of State and the Indonesian Foreign Minister will co-chair a Joint Commission later this year that will ensure continued momentum and progress on the Comprehensive Partnership.  The two Presidents will launch the Comprehensive Partnership when President Obama visits Indonesia.  In that spirit, today the two Presidents agreed to initiate major initiatives advancing Higher Education and confronting Climate Change.

Higher Education Partnership

The United States will invest $165 million over five years in programs facilitating the vital exchange of leadership and management experience, scientific and technical expertise, and cultural understanding between Americans and Indonesians.  This support includes:

• Expanding of our exchange programs, including Fulbright, the Community College Initiative, and the State Department’s English-language training, student advising services, and other exchanges;

• Launching a major five-year effort to improve the quality of higher education in Indonesia through a University Partnership program supporting collaboration between select U.S. and Indonesian higher education institutions;

• The U.S. Government has also invited the Indonesian Minister of National Education to travel to the United States next summer for a U.S.-Indonesia Higher Education Summit to advance our cooperation in education.

Environment and Climate Change Cooperation

The United States recognizes President Yudhoyono’s early pledge at the G-20 in Pittsburgh to reduce Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 41% below business as usual by 2020, as well as Indonesia’s support for the G-20 to pledge to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.  In order to support these pledges, the Copenhagen Accord, and our shared goals on climate change, President Obama committed $136 million over three years in an array of programs toward Environment and Climate Change cooperation, which include:

• The $119 million SOLUSI partnership, which represents the major areas of Environment and Climate engagement–Science, Oceans, Land Use, Society and Innovation — and means “Solution” in Indonesian.  Programs encompassed under SOLUSI include a second Tropical Forest Conservation Act agreement, Forestry and Climate Support Project (IFACS), Marine and Climate Support Program (IMACS), Clean Energy Development (ICED) program, and others.

• Supporting Indonesia in establishing a Climate Change Center that will work closely with national, regional, and local stakeholders in and out of government, linking science to policy on strategic priorities in the climate change area, and focusing initially on emissions from peatlands.  The United States is pleased to announce $7 million in support for the Center and $10 million for associated projects and partnerships, including public-private partnerships focused on addressing climate-related challenges in Indonesia.  Indonesia and the United States welcome Norway’s matching contribution to the Center and encourage other countries and institutions to join in its development.