President Vo Van Thuong and President Joko Widodo hold talks in Hanoi on January 12, 2024.

During talks in Hanoi, President Vo Van Thuong and President Joko Widodo discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in multiple areas including national defense and security, smart finance, innovation, and the development of an electric vehicle (EV) and EV battery ecosystem.

They agreed to boost marine cooperation as well as cooperation in agriculture, digital transformation, energy transition, and the fight against transnational crime.

President Thuong proposed continued cooperation in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The two leaders also agreed to coordinate with other ASEAN countries to support Laos in successfully assuming the role of ASEAN Chair in 2024.

They reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, safety, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea. The Presidents noted that Vietnam and Indonesia will coordinate to maintain ASEAN’s unity and common stance on the East Sea issue. They pledged to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and push ahead with negotiations to reach a substantive, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ICT cooperation and an MoU on  fisheries cooperation. 

President Vo Van Thuong (R) and President Joko Widodo at the press conference in Hanoi on January 12, 2024. (Photo: VNA/Thong Nhat)

“With our traditional friendship and the significant cooperation achievements over the past nearly 70 years, it is time to consider upgrading our bilateral relations to a new height in the coming time. This will create new momentum for bilateral ties, benefit the two peoples, and contribute to ASEAN’s solidarity and peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region,” President Thuong told reporters.

He said the two leaders agreed to strive toward quickly bringing bilateral trade to 15 billion USD and beyond in a balanced manner. 

President Widodo welcomed the increase in investment from both countries, including significant investments by two Indonesian unicorn companies in Vietnam. He said he is confident that Indonesian companies investing in Vietnam will always receive the best conditions and protection.

"I also encourage Vietnamese companies to increase their investment in Indonesia. Regarding food security, we agreed to enhance cooperation in our agriculture and fisheries. The signing of the MoU on fisheries cooperation will encourage collaboration and investment in this area,” said President Widodo.