During their talks, following a welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese leader in Jakarta on August 23, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed their delight at the development of their bilateral ties over the past six decades, especially since the establishment of their strategic partnership in 2013.
The two leaders informed each other of the situation in each country and discussed the major orientations to further deepen the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership and push forward the bilateral ties, across all spheres, in a more practical and effective manner.
They expressed their belief that the two-way trade value would soon be raised to US$10 billion, from US$ 6 billion last year, thanks to measures to encourage Vietnamese and Indonesian businesses to expand cooperation and investment in each other’s market, particularly in the fields of oil and gas, coal, rice, Halal food, pepper and rubber.
President Widodo emphasised three cooperation areas, including maritime navigation and fishing; trade and investment; and regional and international issues.
The leaders agreed to maintain regular visits and meetings at all levels, and through different channels, in order to increase their mutual understanding and trust and promote mutually-beneficial cooperation, while effectively upholding existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Bilateral Cooperation Committee and the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, in addition to enhancing the links between localities of the two nations.
The two sides shared a view that cooperation in defence and security has been a bright spot in their bilateral relations in recent years and is also a very important pillar of cooperation that needs to be strengthened. On that basis, they pledged to coordinate closely in fighting terrorism, cyber and hi-tech crimes, human trafficking, drug trafficking and transnational crimes.
The two sides pledged to accelerate and promptly conclude negotiations on the demarcation of exclusive economic zones towards devising overall solutions, including settling issues related to fishing boats and fishermen in the spirit of humanity, friendship and solidarity within ASEAN, in line with the bilateral strategic partnership and on the basis of respect for each country’s independence and sovereignty.
At the talks, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Widodo also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern. They reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, while ensuring the security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the EastSea, peacefully resolving disputes, and complying with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982. They also stressed the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon reach a Code of Conduct (COC) in the EastSea.
Both sides vowed to continue coordinating to effectively settle common issues, including counter-terrorism, piracy, the arms race and nuclear weapon proliferation. The leaders promised to closely cooperate in terms of stance and action at international and regional forums, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), and the United Nations, as well as regional and global economic and trade cooperation initiatives.
The Vietnamese and Indonesian leaders held that during its five-decade history, ASEAN has obtained numerous important achievements, especially the establishment of the ASEAN Community. They affirmed that Vietnam and Indonesia will continue coordinating together, and with other ASEAN members, to realise the Community’s goals, promote the bloc’s solidarity and cooperation, build a united and strong ASEAN, and bring into play the grouping’s central role in regional architectures.
President Widodo appreciated Vietnam’s support for Indonesia’s candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2019-2020 tenure. He also affirmed that Indonesia backs Vietnam’s bid to run for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term and will continue to work closely with Vietnam in the APEC Year 2017.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong invited President Joko Widodo to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time and President Widodo thanked the Vietnamese leader and accepted the invitation with pleasure.
Source: Nhân Dân