The main purpose of the meeting was to gain insight and updates concerning regional challenges and visions.
“It was especially interesting to meet the secretary general of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan, says Wiig”.
During a dinner meeting at the Norwegian residence in Jakarta, Pitsuwan gave the delegation an in depth
analysis of the challenges and visions that ASEAN faces in the future – with particular regards to Myanmar.
The delegation also made visits to the ASEAN-Secretariat in Jakarta and the Indonesian Department of Foreign
Affairs, where three Director Generals presented the Indonesian vision on the regional political future.
“Norway is closely following the development in the ASEAN-coopartation. It is important for us that Norway
becomes accredited to ASEAN trough Ambassador Homme in Jakarta”, Director General Wiig told her counter part and previous ambassador to Oslo, Director General Retno Marsudi.
The delegation continued to Yogyakarta, the cultural and historical capital in Indonesia,
where the Governor of Yogyakarta which is also the Sultan, welcomed them. They visited “Det Norske hus”
(“The Norwegian house”) at University of Gadjah Mada that this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.
This is one of the most highly accredited universities in Indonesia, with strong bonds to both the University
in Oslo and Agder University. “We received an interesting analysis on religion and politics in Indonesia and
neighbouring countries in the region, challenges in relation to the large Muslim majority and the
other religions”, said Hegge who herself has been posted to Indonesia.
The host, Ambassador Homme, was also pleased that he got the opportunity to show the delegation the palace of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, as well as the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur. This is considered to be one of the most important monuments in Indonesia on the UNESCO World Heritage list. “Summits like these give us a unique chance to coordinate our work on a regional level and to keep each other updated on current topics. Trough close bonds we will be able to achieve synergy-effects of our work at a faster rate”, said Wiig.