Party leader calls for closer Indonesia ties

HA NOI — The Foreign Ministers of Indonesia and Viet Nam were asked by Viet Nam's Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday to seek ways of actively upgrading the relationship between the two nations.

Trong was speaking at a reception to welcome visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in Ha Noi.

The Vietnamese leader spoke highly of the achievements Indonesia had made in recent years, including its high and stable economic growth and its increasingly important role in both regional and international arenas.

He said he believed Indonesia would harvest greater achievements in future.

Commending the results of the first meeting of the Viet Nam-Indonesia Committee for Bilateral Co-operation, the Party leader said the two nations still had significant potential for co-operation and suggested the two foreign ministries seek ways of upgrading it.

Natalegawa said the Indonesian Government viewed the relationship with Viet Nam as important – as well as the role of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

He agreed that the traditional friendship and co-operation would further develop in the future.

He spoke highly of Viet Nam's role in the regional and international arenas, saying that Indonesia always supported its effort to foster bilateral ties in the interests of the two countries, as well as for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.

He briefed the host on the results of the first meeting of the Viet Nam-Indonesia Committee for Bilateral Co-operation, saying that the two sides agreed on specific measures to boost ties in various fields, including trade, investment, agriculture, seafood, culture, education-training and tourism.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also received Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Wednesday.

Dung suggested that Viet Nam and Indonesia could help build a stronger and more developed ASEAN community by strengthening co-operation and co-ordination.

The PM said he was pleased with recent strong developments in relations between the two countries, especially in economics, trade and investment.

He said two-way trade had reached more than US$4.6 billion in 2011 and $2.1 billion in the first half of this year.

The results had brought practical benefits to the development of the two countries as well as contributing to building a strongly-developed ASEAN community.

Dung said Viet Nam and Indonesia should closely co-operate in addressing the region's common problems, including the East Sea issue, so that peace and stability could be maintained in the region and in the world.

He added that the two nations should step up co-operation in diplomacy, security, defence and joint sea patrols.

In the meantime, he said that Viet Nam would help Indonesia ensure food security.

Marty Natalegawa said Indonesia had always attached importance to developing co-operation with Viet Nam and would do its utmost to foster bilateral ties in all areas.

He said Indonesia would continue to closely co-ordinate with other ASEAN countries in building a more prosperous ASEAN community as well as in dealing with regional and international issues, including those involving the East Sea. — VNS