President Phuc meets Indonesian parliamentary leaders

President Phuc congratulated Indonesia on their successful organisation of the G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) which helped the Indonesian side perform outstandingly as the G2 Presidency for this year.

Affirming Vietnamese support for Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and its Chairmanship of the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44) in 2023, he stressed that bilateral ties have been developing strongly, especially following the initial establishment of the strategic partnership back in 2013.

Vietnam treasures the current strategic partnership and wishes to enhance it further, he affirmed. The Vietnamese State leader expressed hope that the two legislatures will maintain co-ordination efforts and support the maintenance of ASEAN’s common stance on the East Sea issue, as well as the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He conveyed National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s invitation to Speaker Maharani to visit Vietnam, with the latter accepting the invitation with pleasure.

Speaker Maharani, in her capacity as the AIPA Chair 2023, also used the occasion to invite NA Chairman Hue to attend AIPA-44 which will be held in Indonesia next year.

The host expressed her belief that President Phuc’s visit will serve to contribute to promoting and deepening the strategic partnership, as well as congratulating Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements, despite enduring the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding the encouraging outcomes of talks between President Phuc and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo, Speaker Maharani emphasised that the Indonesian House of Representatives backs co-operation agreements reached as part of the occasion.

She therefore consented to increase delegation exchanges at all levels and through all channels, including delegations of the two legislatures and their committees. This will serve to share experience in law building and co-ordinate in monitoring bilateral co-operation agreements, thus promoting the role of the legislatures in strengthening the bilateral ties, covering maritime collaboration, and contributing to ensuring safety and security of navigation, whilst simultaneously maintaining peace and stability in the region.

The two sides used the occasion to agree to step up their close ties at other multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), as well as back each other’s stance on regional and international issues of shared concern.

The same day saw President Phuc hold a meeting with Deputy Speaker of the MPR Arsul Sani.

He congratulated Indonesia on its successful assumption of the G20 Presidency, expressing his belief that they will successfully perform their role as ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023 and the Chairmanship of the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44).

The leader noted with pleasure the close legislative ties that have existed between the two countries over recent times, lauding the MPR for its contributions to the co-operation and friendship.

For his part, Deputy Speaker Sani congratulated Vietnam on its strong economic recovery in the post-pandemic period, highlighting the nation as a very important partner of Indonesia in the region.

Both sides used the platform to agree to push ahead with the signing of a new co-operation agreement between the two legislative bodies to replace the one inked back in 2010.

President Phuc called on the MPR to support the establishment of the twinning relations between Vietnamese and Indonesian localities, firstly between Ho Chi Minh City and Bali, and between Da Nang and Semarang. This can contribute to expanding people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment, and tourism connectivity.