Vietnam and Indonesia have issued a joint statement during President Truong Tan Sang’s official visit to Indonesia on June 27-28, agreeing to elevate the long-standing bilateral relationship to a new height.

Following is the full text of the joint statement:

“At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Truong Tan Sang paid a State visit to the Republic of Indonesia on June 27 – 28, 2013.

During the visit, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President Truong Tan Sang held talks in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. The two leaders exchanged views and highly valued the traditional relations of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia that have been well maintained and developed with remarkable achievements, serving the well-being of the two nations, especially since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1955.

The two leaders were committed to elevating the long-standing bilateral relationship to a new height and decided to establish the Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia built upon the basis of the Declaration between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Indonesia on the Framework of Friendly and Comprehensive Partnership entering the 21 st century (2003) and the Indonesia - Vietnam Plan of Action in the period of 2012 - 2015 (2011).

The Strategic Partnership shall also conform to the principles of the UN and ASEAN Charters, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, and other universally recognised norms of international law.
In light of the Strategic Partnership, the two leaders agreed to intensify the exchange of high-level visits and to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields. Both leaders tasked the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with relevant Ministries, to formulate Plans of Action for the Strategic Partnership that provides ways and means to ensure the concrete and effective implementation of the Strategic Partnership. The two leaders also stressed the importance for both countries to periodically review the implementation of the Strategic Partnership through bilateral cooperation mechanisms, namely the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation and the Joint Commission on Economics, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

On defense and security cooperation, the two leaders supported further effective implementation of the MOU on Promotion of Cooperation of Defence Officials and Related Activities (2010), the Agreement on Cooperation of Criminal Combating and Prevention (2005) and the Terms of Reference on Navy to Navy Talks (2012), particularly in promoting capacity building and exchange personnel. The two leaders also encouraged the enhancement of cooperation in national defense industry and non-traditional security fields.

On trade, the two leaders appreciated the steadily growing two-way trade and were committed to pushing forward the progressive, balanced and sustainable two-way trade cooperation. The two leaders were optimistic that the target of 5 billion USD in trade volume could be surpassed before 2015 and agreed to set a new target of 10 billion USD in trade volume by 2018.

The two leaders shared a positive assessment on the growing investment cooperation and were committed to continue promoting a more attractive and favourable environment for greater investment and trade. The President of Indonesia expressed his hope for the continued support and assistance of the Vietnamese Government for the increasing economic presence of Indonesia in Vietnam.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation aiming at achieving sustainable food and energy security through trade, investment and joint research and development. On food security, the two leaders welcomed the extension of the MoU on Rice Trade to 2017 and agreed to strengthen cooperation in food production and quality control as well as stock management. On energy security, the two leaders encouraged business community of the two countries to actively explore energy and mineral resources cooperation, including on developing eco-friendly mining industry, coal and minerals trade, electricity generation as well as new and renewable energy.

The two leaders observed the progress in the fisheries and aquaculture cooperation and emphasized the need for both countries to further implement the MoU on Marine and Fisheries Cooperation (2010) to further tap the high potentials of cooperation in this area and to address illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, including on the arrangement for returning fishermen caught or arrested due to (IUU) fishing.

The two leaders directed the technical team to expedite their discussion for the early conclusion on delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and, without prejudice to the final settlement of maritime boundary delimitation, encouraged both sides to find a temporary solution to facilitate cooperation in marine and fisheries affairs.

The two leaders were determined to continue to strengthen people to people links by enhancing cooperation in the fields of education, culture and tourism. In this regard, the two leaders agreed to revitalize the MoU on Education Cooperation (2005), promote closer cooperation in developing eco-tourism and MICE industry as well as to strengthen cultural cooperation, including within the framework of Trail of Civilization.

The two leaders agreed to further intensify the work of ASEAN in realising an ASEAN community 2015 that is politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible to take advantage of current and future opportunity and effectively respond to regional and international challenges.

President of Truong Tan Sang reiterated his commitment to provide continuous active support during Indonesia’s Chairmanship of APEC in 2013. While President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono assured Indonesia’s full support to Vietnam in the latter’s Chairmanship of APEC in 2017. President Yudhoyono also invited President Truong Tan Sang for the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Bali in October 2013.

On the East Sea, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, maritime security in the region and reaffirmed the collective commitments under the DOC to ensuring the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The two leaders expressed their full support for the ASEAN’s six-point Principles on the East Sea and welcomed the commencement of the discussion on the COC between ASEAN and China and looked forward to the continuation of discussions on the COC towards to the early conclusion of a Regional Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Upon conclusion of the bilateral meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of the agreements, namely the Agreement on Extradition, Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Commodities Cooperation. On the sidelines of the State visit, the Memorandum of Understanding on Energy and Mineral Resources Cooperation, the Memorandum of Understanding on Financial Cooperation, and the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Vietnam and Indonesia were also signed. The two leaders instructed the relevant Ministries of the two countries to actively implement these documents.

President Truong Tan Sang expressed their gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono accepted the kind invitation by President Truong Tan Sang to visit Vietnam at a mutually convenient time."-VNA