Vietnam's top legislator to officially visit Indonesia

By Vu Anh August 3, 2023 | 08:36 am PT

National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo courtesy of the National Assembly Media Center

National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will begin his official visit to Indonesia starting Friday and attend the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Per an invitation of his Indonesian counterpart Puan Paharani, Hue will become the first Vietnamese National Assembly chairperson to officially visit Indonesia in the last 13 years, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said Thursday.

Hue will attend the opening ceremony and make a speech at AIPA, meet with Paharani and perform other bilateral exchange acitivities.

During the four-day visit, which will last until Aug. 7, Hue is also expected to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Vietnam and Indonesia became strategic partners in 2013. Indonesia is Vietnam's third largest trade partner in ASEAN, while Vietnam is the fourth largest trade partner for Indonesia within the bloc.

Trade turnover between the two countries reached $14.1 billion in 2022, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Within the first four months of 2023, bilateral trade turnover reached over $4.2 billion, and may reach $15 billion for the entirety of 2023.

Vietnam supplies Indonesian market with products including rice, coffee, mobile phones and metal. Vietnamese businesses often import Indonesian goods like coal, cattle feed and metal.