Jakarta, July 26 -- Indonesia is intensifying diplomatic efforts to accelerate the signing of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), describing the pact as a strategic economic bridge between Southeast Asia's largest economy and the 27-member bloc.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono reiterated the importance of the agreement during a bilateral meeting with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Post-Ministerial Conferences (AMM/PMC) in Manila on Thursday (July 23).

"The signing of the IEU-CEPA is highly strategic for strengthening trade, investment, and economic partnership between ...