(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang on Thursday began a state visit to Indonesia at the invitation of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The visit marks a milestone in the 60 years of diplomatic ties with the establishment of a strategic partnership, opening a new chapter in Vietnam-Indonesia relations.
Vietnam and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1995 and political relations really thrived during the following 10 years particularly with the close relationship between President Ho Chi Minh and President Shukarno. The traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries have been developing steadily toward a strategic partnership. The exchange of high-level visits and delegations has been maintained over time punctuated by the official visit to Indonesia by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2011 and the State visit to Vietnam by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2010. Indonesia considers Vietnam one of its 14 worthwhile comprehensive and strategic partners. In a push to establish a strategic partnership, 2 seminars have been held between Vietnam and Indonesia seeing it through. Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said: “Vietnam-Indonesia relations have sufficient grounds to be elevated to a strategic partnership. Vietnam has established strategic partnership with a number of countries. This strategic partnership will benefit both countries for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.”
Vietnam and Indonesia have signed a Program of Action for the 2012-2015 period. The recently established Committee for Bilateral Cooperation at the Foreign Ministerial level convened its first session in Hanoi in 2012 and the 6th session of the Joint Committee on Cooperation in Economics, Science and Technology was held in Indonesia the same year. Bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment has been stable with steady growth in two-way trade turnover, which increased from 3.3 billion USD in 2010 to 4.6 billion USD in 2012. The two countries expect to bring this figure to 5 billion USD by 2015. Vietnam and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding on defense and security cooperation in 2010 and are expected to sign agreements on extradition and mutual criminal legal assistance. Indonesia is currently helping to train Vietnamese military officials. Cooperation in education and training, agro-forestry, energy, culture, and tourism has been boosted. Vietnam and Indonesia are negotiating the resigning of the 2005 MOU on Education Cooperation. Indonesia grants Vietnam hundreds of scholarships every year. Bambang Tarsanto, Indonesia’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh city said: “There are Vietnamese students that have been awarded scholarships from the Indonesian government. There is higher enthusiasm of Indonesian people to participate in blood donation activities held by the Indonesian consular agenda which shows interdependence and sense of brotherhood between the two nations. With the support of the Ho Chi Minh city Union of Friendship Organizations, the performance of Indonesian culture as well as the cooperation to hold the ASEAN table tennis tournament have brought the two countries’ people and ASEAN member countries closer with a deeper understanding.”
Vietnam and Indonesia have been reliable partners in resolving regional issues particularly those related to the East Sea. The two countries are contributing to turning ASEAN into an important political and economic entity in Southeast Asia and further enhance its role in Asia-Pacific and the world over.
President Sang’s visit to Indonesia aims to confirm Vietnam’s unswerving policy of respecting and fostering friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Indonesia, its important partner in ASEAN and the region. Topics for discussion will include ways to bring bilateral ties to strategic partnership as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern including East Sea-related issues and cooperation within ASEAN.
Bich Huyen