Việt Nam and Indonesia pledged yesterday to work together on issues from justice to agriculture to energy, following talks between Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

JAKARTA – Việt Nam and Indonesia pledged yesterday to work together on issues from justice to agriculture to energy, following talks between Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. 

At a press conference following the signing ceremony, the leaders expressed their delight at the outcomes of the talks, which took place at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta after an official welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese leader, who is on an official visit from August 22 to 24. 

During the talks, the two sides scrutinised three main issues: navigation and fisheries; trade and investment; and regional issues, President Widodo said. He added that they agreed to speed up negotiations on the delineation of exclusive economic zones, work to reach consensus on fishing grounds, and reduce illegal fishing. 

The documents signed include a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between Việt Nam’s Ministry of Justice and Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and a MoU on information development cooperation between Việt Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Indonesia’s Ministry of Village, Disadvantaged Region Development and Transmigration. 

Việt Nam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources signed a MoUs on cooperation in gas use in border areas, and another on cooperation in the coal industry. 
While the two countries’ coast guard forces inked a letter of intent on cooperation enhancement, the Vietnamese and Indonesian Governments signed an MoU on educational cooperation. 
The leaders also discussed new measures and initiatives to boost bilateral trade to US$10 billion in the near future. 

As a big producer and exporter of coffee and pepper, Indonesia agreed to devise concrete measures to manage the products, keep prices stable and improve products’ quality, Widodo noted. 

He expressed his hope that Indonesian and Vietnamese investors will face more favourable conditions for their activities. 

The talks and subsequent press conference were an opportunity to look back on the countries’ traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation over the past years. The leaders discussed ways to deepen their strategic partnership and boost relations in all aspects. 

President Widodo emphasised that Việt Nam has been a strategic partner of Indonesia since 2013, and they work closely together as members of ASEAN. Việt Nam currently chairs APEC in 2017 and will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November.
Indonesia hailed achievements in the formation of a code of conduct (COC) in the East Sea and considered them a strong foundation for resolving East Sea-related issues and for maintaining stability, peace and prosperity in the region. 

Party General Secretary Trọng underlined that Việt Nam consistently wants to bolster the strategic partnership with Indonesia. Good implementation of the agreements and cooperation measures will improve  bilateral relations, thus benefiting the two peoples, helping to enhance solidarity among the member countries of the ASEAN Community, and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

Earlier in the official trip, the Vietnamese Party chief and his entourage laid a wreath at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, where veterans of the Indonesian National Revolution and other prominent people are buried. 
Later, President Widodo hosted a banquet in honour of General Secretary Trọng and the Vietnamese delegation.-VNS