US, Indonesia To Strengthen Cooperation On South China Sea, North Korea - White House

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) US Vice President Mike Pence held a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to discuss ramping up cooperation on navigation freedom in the South China Sea and keeping pressure on North Korea to achieve denuclearization, the White House said in a press release on Wednesday.

"The two heads of delegation agreed to strengthen cooperation across security and economic issues, including maintaining the North Korea pressure campaign, upholding freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, improving the humanitarian situation for the Rohingya, and increasing two way trade," the release said.

The vice president also offered condolences to the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi. Indonesia received almost 12 million Dollars from the United States for earthquake relief efforts.

Pence also congratulated Indonesia on its selection to the United Nations Security Council in 2019.

Pence's meeting with the Indonesian president comes ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which begins on November 17. Papua New Guinea will host the leaders of 21 countries, including the US vice president, who is going to attend the summit instead of President Donald Trump.