Indonesia - Viet Nam, Indonesia look to raise ties to new height

Viet Nam and Indonesia have reiterated their resolve to raise bilateral relations to a higher level, lifting them towards a strategic partnership for peace, stability, co-operation, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

The agreement was concluded at the talks between Indonesian President Susilo Bamgbang Yudhoyono and visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in the Indonesian capital yesterday.

During their talks, the two leaders exchanged information on outstanding points achieved in the socio-economic development and foreign policy by respective country. President Yudhoyono congratulated Viet Nam on the success of the 11th National Party Congress and the election of the 13th National Assembly.

He spoke highly of measures taken by Viet Nam to stabilise its macro economy, curbing inflation and ensuring social security.

Prime Minister Dung was full of praise for Indonesia's success in riding over the global financial crisis, overcoming successive national disasters and especially the success in organising the 18th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting in May - and the 44th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in July, 2011.

Leaders of the two countries also agreed to further strengthen co-operation in politics, security, national defence, economics-trade-investment, agro-forestry and fisheries, culture, education and training and sports.

The two leaders also commended the effectiveness of the Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Co-operation and agreed to establish a joint commission for bilateral co-operation at the Foreign Ministerial level.

During the talks, Prime Minister Dung reiterated Viet Nam's total support to Indonesia during its Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2011 and the successful convening of the upcoming 19th ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit in Bali in November.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015 by accelerating implementation of the ASEAN charter and a road-map for an ASEAN community creating a common peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region for the next four years; and to commence deliberation on a post 2015 vision of an ASEAN community in a global community of nations.

After the talks, Dung and Yudhoyono witnessed the signing of the Viet Nam-Indonesia Action Plan for the period 2012-15 and a Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Activities to Enhance Bilateral Communications and Consultations between the Vietnamese and Indonesian Foreign Ministries.

After the talks, Dung told reporters that one topic was bilateral co-operation at international and regional forums, including East Sea issue and the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards a Code of Conduct (COC).

President Yudhoyono confirmed Indonesia's consistent policy of developing co-operation with Viet Nam, considering it as a focal point in the Mekong region.

He said both Viet Nam and Indonesia agreed to strive toward a target of US$5 billion in trade by 2015 and continue to promote a more attractive environment for two-way trade and investment.

Relating to the East Sea, President Yudhoyono said his country supported the settlement of contentious issues relating to the East Sea between different parties through peace and international law.

Also yesterday morning, Dung and his entourage laid a wreath at a monument in honour of Indonesian heroes and heroines at the Kalibata cemetery in Jakarta.

In other news, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh yesterday held talks with his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa on measures to consolidate friendship and co-operation.

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