General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong holds talks with President Joko Widodo

On August 23, right after the official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had a private meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong holds talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

After the private meeting, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

President Joko Widodo warmly welcomed General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to the Republic of Indonesia.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong congratulated the great achievements that the Indonesian Government and people have made in recent times, and believed that Indonesia will continue to be more successful in building and developing the country, constantly enhancing its role and position in the region and the world. At the same time, he affirmed that Vietnam attaches special importance to and gives high priority to maintaining and developing the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Indonesia.

The two sides agreed that the traditional friendship between the two countries, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno and nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two countries, has today become a strategic partnership; affirming that Vietnam and Indonesia will continue to be trusted friends, bound by friendship, sharing similar values ​​and interests.

The two leaders expressed their delight at the development of bilateral relations over the past 60 years, especially since the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2013; they believed that the target of two-way trade turnover of 10 billion USD would soon be achieved through incentives and creating a favorable environment for businesses of the two countries to seek opportunities for cooperation and investment in each other's markets, especially cooperation in areas where both sides have advantages and can complement each other such as oil and gas, coal, rice, Halal food, pepper, rubber, etc.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joko Widodo said that the two countries still have much potential and conditions to promote cooperation in various fields. President Joko Widodo emphasized the priority of three areas of cooperation: maritime and fishing; trade, investment and regional and international issues.

The two leaders discussed and agreed on directions and measures to comprehensively promote and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries in the coming time, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, actively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the solidarity, unity and strength of ASEAN.

The two leaders agreed to continue to maintain regular visits and increase contacts at all levels and through all channels to expand understanding, enhance trust, and promote substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation; effectively promote existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Bilateral Cooperation Committee and the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation; and promote cooperation between localities of the two countries.

The two sides highly appreciated and believed that cooperation in the field of defense and security is a bright spot in the relationship between the two countries in recent times and is a very important pillar of cooperation that needs to be strengthened at present.

On that basis, the two sides pledged to closely coordinate with each other in the fight against terrorism, cyber and high-tech crimes, human trafficking, drugs and transnational crimes; actively accelerate and soon conclude negotiations on the delimitation of exclusive economic zones, moving towards comprehensive solutions, including handling issues related to fishing vessels and fishermen in the spirit of humanity, friendship and solidarity within ASEAN, in accordance with the strategic partnership, respecting the independence and sovereignty of each country.

At the talks, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Joko Widodo discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern.

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, peacefully resolving disputes, complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo speak to the press after their talks. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA.

The two sides pledged to continue to coordinate to effectively resolve common issues, including counter-terrorism, piracy, arms race, nuclear proliferation, etc.; closely cooperate in stance and action at international and regional forums, especially ASEAN, ASEM, APEC, Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) and the United Nations as well as in regional and world economic and trade cooperation initiatives to maintain peace, stability, and compliance with the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

The two leaders agreed that in the past 50 years of development, ASEAN has achieved many important achievements, especially the establishment of the ASEAN Community; affirmed that Vietnam and Indonesia will continue to closely coordinate with each other and with other member countries, strive to realize the goals of the Community, promote solidarity and cooperation within the bloc, build a cohesive and strong ASEAN, and promote ASEAN's central role in regional structures.

President Joko Widodo welcomed and appreciated Vietnam's support for Indonesia's candidacy for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2019-2020 term; expressed support for Vietnam's candidacy for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term; and affirmed that Indonesia will continue to support and closely coordinate with Vietnam during APEC 2017.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sincerely thanked the President, the Government and the people of Indonesia for the warm welcome and sincere affection that His Excellency the President, the Government and the people of Indonesia had extended to the General Secretary and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam; and respectfully invited President Joko Widodo to visit Vietnam at a mutually convenient time. President Joko Widodo thanked him and happily accepted the invitation./.

According to Vietnamplus