Scott Morrison arrived in Indonesia on Thursday night, starting his first overseas visit hoping to grow the $16.2 billion trade relationship and establish regular ministerial cooperation with Joko Widodo’s administration.
The two countries are expected to sign a formal agreement to conclude long-running free trade negotiations and announce formation of a Strategic Partnership between Canberra and Jakarta, restarting ministerial-level meetings on defence, foreign affairs and trade.
Foreign policy experts praised Mr Morrison for travelling to meet the Indonesian President less than a week after replacing Malcolm Turnbull, a positive signal to Jakarta and taking advantage of a strategic window of opportunity to finalise the trade deal in a notorious protectionist system.
The agreement is expected to see an Australian university open a campus in Jakarta, bring a relaxation of rules around the beef trade and establish new rules on investment and intellectual property.
Other announcements are expected for cooperation on transport, cyber security and the creative economy.
