Indonesian president arrives in Hanoi, beginning state visit to Vietnam

The Indonesian leader was accompanied by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of state-owned enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Chief of the Presidential Staff Office Moeldoko, member of the Presidential Advisory Council Ambassador Gandi Sulistiyanto Soeherman and Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi.

They were welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi by Chairman of the Presidential Office of Vietnam Le Khanh Hai, Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc and Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong.

This is the second time Indonesian President Widodo has made a state visit to Vietnam, after the first in September 2018.

Vietnam and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1955 and upgraded ties to comprehensive partnership in 2003, and strategic partnership 10 years later. Vietnam is Indonesia's only stratetic partner in ASEAN.

Within the bloc, Indonesia is Vietnam's third largest trade partner and Vietnam Indonesia's fourth largest.

Bilateral trade turnover reached US$12.6 billion in the first 11 months last year, as the countries aimed to raise annual trade revenues to $15 billion.