Today is the 64th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia’s Independence.

The Indonesian government, has had a representative office (consular office) in Manila since 1949 but it was not until the early 1950’s that an embassy was established.

A treaty of friendship was signed in 1951. Since then, the Philippines has been a valued partner of Indonesia in various regional and multilateral forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

In 2007, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Raomulo and Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda reaffirmed the Philippines’ and Indonesia’s commitment to further strengthen partnership in all areas, particularly in peacebuilding. As Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference’s (OIC) Committee of the Eight, Indonesia confirmed its willingness to host the Tripartite Meeting between the GRP, the OIC, and the MNLF on the progress of the implementation of the 2nd phase of the GRP-MNLF peace agreement.

At the recent 4th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Philippines and Indonesia agreed to further intensify and wider cooperation in defense, security, police, and border issues; trade and investments; marine and fisheries issues, and agriculture, forestry, and energy issues; tourism, transportation, information, culture, and education, labor, and twinning cooperation issues, consular and legal matters; and the Brunei Darusssalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

We congratulate the people and the government of Indonesia led by H.E., President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and its Embassy in the Philippines, headed by H.E. Ambassador Irzan Tandjung, on the occasion of the 64th Anniversary of their Independence. We wish them success in all their endeavors.