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JAKARTA: Indonesia and New Zealand affirm the importance of equity in access to vaccines for all countries to accelerate the process of freeing the world of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (pic, right) following a bilateral meeting with her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, in Jakarta on Monday.

“I welcome the heightened health cooperation (between the two countries) during the pandemic,” said Minister Marsudi at a virtual press briefing.

As part of the cooperation between the two countries during the pandemic, New Zealand provided Indonesia 684,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the dose-sharing scheme, Marsudi noted. The doses were received last month, she said.

Aside from that, cooperation was also carried out through the Eijkman Molecular Biology Institute to increase COVID-19 testing capabilities, as well as with UNICEF to increase the capacity of public health and medical equipment in Indonesia, she added.

New Zealand demonstrated its support to Indonesia through donations of vaccines as well as ventilators, rapid test kits, and support for the Eijkman Institute, Marsudi said.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand conveyed her appreciation toward her Indonesian counterpart as one of the co-chairs of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment Engagement Group that has played a part in ensuring equal access to vaccines for all nations.

“We agree that close international cooperation is vital, not only in response to the pandemic but also towards economic recovery,” said Minister Mahuta.