Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh had a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Hanoi on January12, during which the leaders highly evaluated the strong and dynamic development of the two countries’ cooperationin multiple areas.

Welcoming his guest, PM Chinh said President Widodo’s statevisit to Vietnam holds special significance and will create new momentum for bilateralties after over 10 years of the strategic partnership and ahead of the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations in 2025.

President Widodo affirmed that Vietnam is a partner of strategic importance of Indonesia in the region.

Bothleaders shared the view that the strategic trust between their countries hasbeen increasingly reinforced via frequent high-level mutual visits andmeetings. The bilateral cooperation in such fields as security - defence, maritime affairs, agriculture,fisheries, education - training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges has recordeda number of positive results.

Economicand trade cooperation is a bright spot of the bilateral relations. Indonesia registeredover 1 billion USD in investment in Vietnam during January - November 2023, up37% year on year. It is the third largest ASEAN trading partner of Vietnam, which in turnranks fourth among trading partners of the former in the region, with bilateraltrade approximating 13 billion USD in the 11 months, statistics showed.

Tocreate a new impetus for the bilateral relations, the two leaders agreed to considerlifting the Vietnam - Indonesia strategic partnership to a new level. They agreedto continue increasing delegation exchanges and meetings at all levels,effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms and signedhigh-level agreements and documents, and soon build an action plan for 2024 -2028 that suits the new context.

They also concurred in working together to raise the bilateral tradeto 15 billion USD and even 18 billion USD by 2028, facilitate and encourage thetwo countries’ businesses to invest in each other’s markets, and expandcooperation to new areas such as artificial intelligence, digital economy,green economy, renewable energy, and electric vehicle (EV) and EV battery ecosystem.

The two sides will also expand cooperation programmes within theframework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), enhance ties in theHalal industry, boost connections in ensuring food security, and promote thesigning of a deal on rice trading.

PMChinh and President Widodo affirmed that Vietnam and Indonesia will foster tiesin other important fields like defence, security, maritime affairs, the settlementof common sea-related challenges, fisheries, and the fight against illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The two countries will also step upeducation - training cooperation, increase direct commercial flights, andpromote people-to-people exchanges and locality-to-locality cooperation.

Atthe meeting, the two leaders also discussed some regional issues of sharedconcern. They agreed to continue the coordination with and support for each otherat multilateral organisations; enhance collaboration to strengthen ASEAN’s solidarity,centrality, and common viewpoint on regional security issues, including theEast Sea matter; and support Laos to fulfill the role of the ASEAN Chair in 2024.

PMChinh invited Indonesia to send senior representatives to and support Vietnamto successfully host the ASEAN Future Forum on fast, sustainable, andpeople-centred development in 2024 to help build a resilient and sustainable ASEANcommunity./.