Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi on April 17 co-chaired the third session of the Bilateral Cooperation Committee meeting at the foreign ministerial level in Hanoi.
Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi
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At the press conference after the meeting, Deputy PM Minh hailed Vietnam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership, especially after Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Indonesia in July 2017.
He referred to the two nations’ trade growth at 6.5% per year in 2012-2016, reaching US$6.5 billion in bilateral trade in 2017, up 16% against the previous year.
They committed to enhancing cooperation in agriculture, focusing on key export items such as rice, coffee, rubber and aquatic products.
The Vietnamese side proposed Indonesia to consider importing Viet Nam’s fruits such as dragon fruits, star apples, logans and grapefruits.
The two nations agreed to enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-ranking level and soon complete the establishment of a new action plan for the 2019-2023 period.
Regarding defense cooperation, the host and the guest assented to strengthen delegation exchanges and launch reached agreements between the two Ministries of Defense and establish a defense dialogue mechanism at deputy-ministerial level.
They agreed to set up effective coordination mechanism to protect fishermen and fishing boats, address issues related to violations of fishermen on each country’s waters in line with local laws and regulations on humanitarian spirit and friendship relations.
Vietnam will make efforts to communicate its fishermen not to violate other nations’ waters, Deputy PM Minh affirmed.
Referring to international and regional issues, Vietnam highly appraised the support and close coordination of Indonesia during Vietnam's hosting of APEC 2017.
The two nations consented to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region, enhancing the construction of the ASEAN Community.
They discussed issues to maintain maritime and aeronautical peace, stability, safety and security and address disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures, respecting diplomatic procedures and abiding by international regulations, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.
They highlighted the importance of fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and joining hands in reaching the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Minister Retno Marsudi agreed with Deputy PM, FM Minh to upgrade the two-way trade turnover to US$10 billion in the future.
He expected that the meeting not only consolidates the two nations’ relationship in particular but also enhances the relations between nations in the region and the world.
