First lady praises cooperation with Indonesia on global health

First lady Kim Keon Hee said that Korea and Indonesia are working together to contribute to global health and fight against infectious diseases in a visit to Bio Farma, Indonesia's leading vaccine manufacturer, in Jakarta on Wednesday.

First lady Kim Keon Hee, left, greets Indonesian first lady Iriana Joko Widodo at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah park in Jakarta on Wednesday as they take part in a series of events arranged for the spouses of leaders attending the Asean summit this week. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

First lady Kim Keon Hee said that Korea and Indonesia are working together to contribute to global health and fight against infectious diseases in a visit to Bio Farma, Indonesia's leading vaccine manufacturer, in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Kim visited Bio Farma, a state-owned pharmaceutical company collaborating with the Seoul-headquartered International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to develop and distribute a typhoid vaccine, said the presidential office in a statement.

She also took part in events and cultural activities arranged for spouses of leaders attending the Asean-related summits in Jakarta.

"Global solidarity and cooperation are essential to protect humanity from infectious diseases and realize global health justice," Kim was quoted as saying by the office. "Korea and Indonesia are taking a step forward in economic cooperation and working together as IVI members to contribute to global health."

IVI, an international nonprofit organization established in 1997 by a United Nations Development Programme initiative to make vaccines more accessible, has been developing a typhoid conjugate vaccine with Indonesia's Bio Farma and Korea's SK Bioscience since 2010.

In March, Kim was appointed honorary president of the IVI Korea Support Committee. Korean first ladies have traditionally been appointed to this position by the IVI.

Kim was told by Bio Farma representatives that global partnership is important to ensure rapid vaccine development, secure affordable prices and distribute them to underdeveloped countries, said the office. They requested support from the Korean government in vaccine development, production and distribution to prepare for the next big pandemic.

"Vaccines can save millions of lives, but for this to happen, it is important to supply them to the right place at the right time," Kim said.

Kim said that the IVI Korea Support Committee and Korean government remains keen to ensure that people around the world are protected from diseases through the IVI and Bio Farma's international vaccine research cooperation model.

First lady Kim Keon Hee, right, speaks on global health to representatives of Bio Farma, Indonesia’s leading vaccine manufacturer, in Jakarta on Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Earlier Wednesday, Kim took part in events arranged for spouses of leaders attending the Asean summit in Jakarta upon the invitation of Indonesian first lady Iriana Joko Widodo held at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah park, said the presidential office.

They watched cultural and martial arts performances, including a play by Indonesian children. The spouses also viewed traditional crafts, artwork and fashion accessories made by small- and medium-sized businesses from all over Indonesia. They later had a luncheon with traditional Indonesian food.

"Traditional culture serves as a bridge that connects generations," Kim was quoted as saying by the presidential office. "In order to inherit traditional culture, active support for future generations is needed above all else."

She shared that interest in preserving traditional culture is also increasing in Korea.

Kim discussed cultural exchanges, including K-beauty and K-pop, with the spouses of the Philippine and Malaysian leaders.

She was also reunited with Japanese first lady Yuko Kishida, who visited Seoul in May with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a bilateral summit to return the Korean presidential couple's trip to Tokyo in March. Kim saw her again later that month at the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim also attended the dinner gala hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Hutan Kota by Gelora Bung Karno outdoor park in Jakarta Wednesday evening.

They were both dressed in traditional Indonesian batik clothing provided to dignitaries attending the Asean summits by the Indonesian government, the presidential office said Thursday.

There were performances of traditional dances and music from the Asean member nations and East Timor, promoting harmony between countries with diverse cultural backgrounds, said the office. The stage used laser lighting and media art to reflect the theme of the summit, "Asean Matters: The Epicentrum of Growth."

The Indonesian presidential couple made a bilateral visit to Korea in July 2022, and Kim and first lady Iriana met again at the G20 summit in Bali last November and at the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May.

First lady Iriana gave Kim a portrait of one of her pet dogs, Saerom, as a commemorative gift, last year.

The Korean and Indonesian leaders are scheduled to hold their bilateral summit at the presidential palace in Jakarta Friday as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrive for the gala dinner at the 43rd Asean Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]