RESTRICTED
WT/MIN(13)/8
8 November 2013
(13-6209)  Page: 1/2
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: English
 
 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA 
The following letter, dated 4 November 2013, addr essed to the Director-General of the WTO is 
being circulated at the request of the Pr esident of the Republic of Indonesia. 
 
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Your Excellency, 
 First of all, I would like to warmly congratulate you on your recent appointment as the Director-
General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This appointment is a confirmation of your 
capacity and credibility as an esteemed expert on WTO issues.  
The current state of play in the WTO negotiation, which is based on the mandate of Doha 
Development Agenda (DDA) 2001, calls for support from the international community for strengthening development-dimension-infused multilateral trading system and maintaining the central role of the WTO as the primary institution for global governance of international trade. 
 
While recognizing the different national priorities, all members need to express willingness, flexibility, and be more pragmatic in the current round of negotiation so as to attain benefits for all 
members. Needless to say, the international supports are imperative for the success of the 
upcoming Ninth Ministerial Conference of WTO (MC-9) in Bali, Indonesia, on 3-6 December 2013. I believe that the MC-9 will serve as the much needed collective effort to achieve consequential 
outcomes which may contribute to the conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations. 
 At this important juncture, I would like to express my deep appreciation for your continuous effort to undertake a series of intensive consultations to identify different members' position on the three 
elements of the "Bali Package". The objective is clearly towards finding a possible landing zone and 
working towards convergence of issues on the table. I would also like to note your letter to all WTO Ministers regarding your request for supporting the successful Bali Package in MC-9.  
 
As the host of MC-9, Indonesia has done its utmost to make the conference a success. The G20 Leaders' Summit in St. Petersburg last September and the APEC Summit in Bali last October have 
called on all WTO members to show the necessary flexibilities in order to bridge existing gaps and 
deliver positive and balanced results at the MC-9 . Taking the opportunity of being the host of 
APEC, Indonesia also initiated a stand-alone Leaders' Statement on Multilateral Trading System and MC-9 to further gather the support of APEC members. 
 
As the WTO is a member-driven forum, the su ccess of Bali depends on its own members. 
Indonesia, as an active member of WTO, is committed to achieving successful outcomes at the 
MC-9 in Bali. Indonesia believes that free trade and investment, and achieving an open, 
transparent and non-discriminatory rule-based WTO trading system are crucial for restoring global 
growth.  
 
Indonesia believes that trade is the key to ec onomic growth, sustainable development and job 
creation. As such, the success of MC-9 in Bali is inde ed crucial as it will restore the credibility of 
the multilateral trade system and in particular  the strong willingness to conclude the DDA 
negotiations.  
 WT/MIN(13)/8 
 
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  Before concluding, I would like to kindly request yo ur good offices to forward this letter to all WTO 
members, to strongly encourage the countries to show their political will and necessary flexibilities in order to bridge existing gaps and deliver positive and balanced results at the MC-9.  
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. 
  
 PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA, 
 
 [Signed] 
 
 DR. H. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO 
 
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