President Obama’s childhood connections have supported his diplomacy, allowing him to forge stronger ties with another important Asian democracy. The comprehensive partnership will enhance USA-Indonesian cooperation in the areas of investment and trade, political security, climate change, education, and energy.
The partnership “is a symbol and a manifestation of the new level to which we are taking the U.S.-Indonesia relationship,” said Jeff Bader, White House senior director for Asian Affairs, during a transcribed press briefing with media en route to Jakarta.
Indonesia is a growing economy, and the only ASEAN country in the G-20. Next year it will assume chairmanship of the East Asia Summit, which Obama plans to attend.
Indonesia is also the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, known for religious pluralism and tolerance.
In a speech to students at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday, Obama drew parallels from his own boyhood experiences, to the country’s democratic and economic successes in evidence now.
Obama moved to Indonesia with his mother, after she married an Indonesian, Lolo Soetoro. He lived and went to school there from 1967 to 1971.
“As a young boy I was coming to a different world. But the people of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home,” said Obama to the students.
“And I learned to love Indonesia while flying kites and running along the paddy fields and catching dragonflies, [and] buying satay and baso from the street vendors,” he said.
The president, speaking on Heroes Day, also spoke about knowing how his stepfather’s father and older brother had died fighting for the country’s right to independence.
“In the years since then, Indonesia has charted its own course through an extraordinary democratic transformation—from the rule of an iron fist to the rule of the people,” said Obama.
“So today, I return to Indonesia as a friend, but also as a president who seeks a deep and enduring partnership between our two countries,” said Obama to applause from the audience.
During a joint press conference, Yudhoyono expressed hope and optimism about a comprehensive partnership with the United States.
“In various fields, it will receive our effort to enhance and to improve,” he said in a statement provided by the White House.
“In the few times having met with President Barack Obama, up to now one thing that I felt during our meetings, the understanding of the situation in developing countries, an understanding on the issues faced by a country like Indonesia that is often very complex. That makes it possible for President Barack Obama to see in a more clear situation what are the true challenges faced by the developing world. And therefore, the cooperation that we build between Indonesia and the United States, for example, is more precise. He understands more the challenges, the situation, and obstacles that is faced by countries like Indonesia,” said Yudhoyono.
