Government leader rejoices over sound strategic partnership with Indonesia

The Vietnamese Government leader welcomed Minister Marsudi’s visit and her co-chairing of the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Indonesia Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation.

PM Chinh applauded the Indonesian FM’s important contributions to the success of the ASEAN Future Forum as a contribution to realizing the ASEAN Vision towards 2045 on building a resilient and sustainable ASEAN Community whilst promoting its centrality in regional issues.

As part of the occasion, he conveyed Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's regard to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, congratulated Indonesia on the successful holding of its general elections in February, and expressed his belief that the country will develop further. This is particularly relevant as it strives to gain a higher position in the international arena and achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2045.

Indonesia is currently the Vietnamese side’s third largest trade partner in ASEAN, while the latter is the former’s fourth biggest. Trade turnover has increased nearly three-fold 10 years after the establishment of the bilateral strategic partnership, PM Chinh said.

Both sides consented to boost collaboration to swiftly take the partnership to new heights, intensify delegation exchanges and contacts, effectively realise bilateral co-operation mechanisms and agreements, and launch a wide range of activities in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties in 2025.

They also agreed to work together in a bid to elevate bilateral trade turnover to US$18 billion by 2028 in a balanced direction.

For her part, FM Marsudi said she will forward the Vietnamese side’s proposals to competent Indonesian agencies in order to study and consider facilitating Vietnamese agricultural and Halal products to gain access to the Indonesian market.

Other efforts include allowing the export of young lobster to Vietnam; and stepping up co-operation in new fields such as the green economy, the circular economy, renewable energy, semiconductor technology, the digital economy, energy transition, and the electric vehicle industry. Furthermore, the two sides will continue to ramp up ties in fisheries and rice trade.

Hailing the Vietnamese foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, and economic self-reliance, the Indonesian FM said her nation fully agrees and supports the country’s profound vision on the future of ASEAN.

She also expressed her hope to work more closely in implementing the food security agreement between the both sides.

FM Marsudi asked the Vietnamese Government to continue supporting Indonesian investment projects in Vietnam, a potential market that Indonesian businesses are increasingly paying attention to.

The two sides affirmed their determination to augment linkages in other important fields such as defence, security, and maritime co-operation, and continue intensifying people-to-people exchanges, especially between young generations whilst enhancing tourism collaboration.

Speaking glowingly of Indonesia's leading role in ASEAN co-operation, both host and guest agreed to continue strengthening ties; foster solidarity and the central role of ASEAN, including supporting Laos in successfully assuming the role of ASEAN Chair in 2024; and promote the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision until 2045.

They also concurred to back ASEAN’s centrality in dealing with regional issues, including maintaining the bloc’s common stance on the East Sea issue, whilst simultaneously accelerating the implementation of ASEAN's five-point consensus on the Myanmar issue.