Vietnam, Indonesia eye comprehensive strategic partnership

The two leaders, meeting in Jakarta on Monday on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, spoke highly of the positive development in the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesian since their meeting in Labuan Bajo in May.

They affirmed that the two countries will step up all-level delegation exchanges in the time ahead, setting milestones for the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership in 2023 and looking towards the 70th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations and the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day and Indonesia’s Independence Day in 2025.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Indonesia' President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, September 4, 2023. Photo by Duong Giang

The two sides agreed to effectively optimize bilateral cooperation mechanisms and coordinate to well implement signed agreements, including bringing the signed document on maritime cooperation into effect soon, creating momentum to elevate the strategic partnership to a new height, towards a comprehensive strategic partnership in the near future.

PM Chinh suggested the two countries maintain their trade ties in a more balanced way, striving to raise the bilateral trade revenue to US$15 billion by 2028, and suggested the two governments encourage businesses of the two countries to increase investment, especially in new areas such as digital economy, green economy, energy transition and e-vehicle ecosystem development.

He also called on Indonesia to ease the application of trade remedy measures against Vietnamese goods, thus facilitating the access of farm produce and Halal products originating from Vietnam to the Indonesian market.

The two countries should cooperate in new, strategic supply chains and enhance cooperation in the areas in which both sides are interested, he said.

The PM suggested Indonesia recognize Vietnam’s efforts in monitoring the operations of fishing boats, and minimising illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

President Widodo thanked Vietnam's support for and active assistance to Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023.

He welcomed Vietnamese businesses, including VinFast, to invest in Indonesia and promote cooperation in the development of renewable energy and electric vehicle ecosystem.

The president suggested the two countries strengthen marine cooperation, and sustainable fishery cooperation and soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding on fishery cooperation.

Talking about regional and international issues, PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam supports and works closely with Indonesia to ensure the success of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2023, contributing to strengthening solidarity, unity, and centrality of ASEAN and maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and common development in the region.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders reaffirmed their support for maintaining ASEAN's solidarity and agreed principles in the East Sea, especially the early finalization of an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

PM Chinh conveyed the invitations of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong to President Widodo to visit Vietnam soon. President Widodo accepted the invitations with pleasure.