Vietnam, Indonesia boost legislative ties
The legislative bodies of Vietnam and Indonesia will increase visit exchanges and cooperation to strengthen friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two counties.
A document to this effect was signed in Jakarta on March 1 between Marzuki Alie, Speaker of the Indonesia House of Representatives and Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong who began an official visit on February 28.
Under the agreement, the two legislative bodies will also work closely in regional and international forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).
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| Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong (L) hold talks with Speaker Marzuki Alie in Jakarta |
During their talks, Mr Trong praised Indonesia’s role as one of the ASEAN and AIPA founders and expressed his hope that Indonesia will continue to support Vietnam in fulfilling its duties as the chair of ASEAN and AIPA in 2010 to realise the goal of building an ASEAN community by 2015 based on three key pillars: security-politics, economics, and culture and social affairs.
He spoke highly of the positive development of traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia in recent times, which was founded and fostered by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Sukarno.
Vietnam considers Indonesia a strategic partner in Southeast Asia and wants to promote the long-standing friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Indonesia bilaterally and multilaterally, said Mr Trong.
He proposed that the two countries approve plans of action to bring to life their “joint statement on the friendship and comprehensive cooperation in the 21st century” so as to raise their relationship to a comprehensive and strategic partnership in the near future.
He said as AIPA chair, the Vietnam National Assembly will do its utmost to successfully organise the 31st AIPA General Assembly this year.
For his part, Speaker Marzuki Alie welcomed Mr Trong’s visit as a vivid manifestation of the growing ties between the two countries and their legislative bodies. He said he believes that the signed agreement will help relations between the two legislative bodies to grow and flourish in the near future.
Speaker Alie welcomed Mr Trong’s proposals to increase cooperation between the two legislative bodies and the two countries. He called on Vietnamese businesses to invest in Indonesia and increase the exchange of commodities with other ASEAN countries.
He assured Mr Trong that the House of Representatives will create favourable conditions for the two business communities to explore opportunities for cooperation and establish partnerships.
Mr Trong invited Maduki Ali to visit Vietnam, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.
Later, NA Chairman Trong met with Chairman of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly Taufik Kiemas, who expressed hope that the growing legislative ties will help promote the two countries’ economic cooperation.
Mr Kiemas praised Vietnam’s Renewal achievements and said Indonesia wants to learn about Vietnam’s experience in poverty reduction.
Mr Trong agreed with his host that both countries should speed up the implementation of signed agreements and work closely to oversee the implementation.
They discussed the possibility of opening a direct air route between Vietnam and Indonesia to promote exchanges and cooperation.
Earlier in the morning, Mr Trong met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He congratulated Yudhoyono on his re-election as Indonesian President for the second term and expressed his belief that under the leadership of the president, Indonesia will make greater achievements in national development.
He affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Indonesia, and considers Indonesia a traditional friend and a strategic partner in Southeast Asia.
He noted with satisfaction the flourishing trade ties between the two countries, which hit more than US$2 billion last year. He proposed that President Yudhoyono direct Indonesian ministries and agencies to share information and increase cooperation with Vietnam.
He also proposed that Indonesia support Vietnam in performing its role as ASEAN and AIPA Chair in 2010, particularly in organising the 16th ASEAN summit and the 31st AIPA General Assembly.
President Yudhoyono congratulated Vietnam on chairing ASEAN and AIPA and reiterated Indonesia’s support for Vietnam in organising related meetings in 2010. He welcomed Vietnamese businesses to explore opportunities in Indonesia and hoped that more projects would be developed after Mr Trong’s visit.
He also expressed his belief that the agreement signed by the two legislative bodies will create a basic legal foundation for bolstering comprehensive cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam.
The same day, Chairman Trong received AIPA General Secretary Antonio V. Cuenco and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.