Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Countries in the Pacific region need strong and sustainable partnership with other countries including Indonesia, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said here on Monday.

"Countries in the Pacific region would not be able to overcome their challenges in human and maritime development sustainably by themselves," he said when speaking at Forum Indonesia Parliamentary Partnership (IPPP).

The first forum of meeting between the Indonesian parliament and those of countries in the Pacific region discussed "Human Development and Maritime Sustainability" .

It was attended by House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, Deputy Speakers Fadli Zon, Agus Hermanto, Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency chairperson Nurhayati Ali Assegaf and several other parliamentary members.

Speakers from the Pacific countries who attended the meeting include Wesley W. Simina from Micronesia, Jiko Luveni from Fiji, Tebuzi Uaai from Kiribati), Cyril Buraman from Nauru), Kenneth A. Kedi from Marshall Islands, Japsper Nasiu from Solomon Islands, Fatafehi Fakafanua from Tonga, Gaston Tong Sang from French Polynesia, John Simon from Papua New Guinea, Lecourieux Yoan from Caledonia.

Referring to the meaning of Pacific which is tranquil, Kalla hoped partnership between Indonesia and the Asia Pacific countries could give peace and tranquility for developing the region together to make it advanced.

"Many think the sea separates us while in fact the Pacific connects us and so problems being faced in the Pacific countries are similar," he said.

House speaker Bambang Soesatyo said when opening the forum that the meeting between Indonesia and countries in the Pacific region was part of Indonesia`s efforts to strengthen its diplomacy in the international forum as has been taken by President Joko Widodo to boost its role in the development of the Pacific region.

Reported by Riza Harahap
(H-YH)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/B/E002)