By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, March 10 (Bernama) -- Indonesia and Vietnam have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, aiming to enhance cooperation across a range of sectors, including politics, defence, security, science, economic integration, and people-to-people exchanges.
At a joint press conference on Monday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that he and Vietnam’s Communist Party Secretary-General To Lam had set a target to increase bilateral trade to US$18 billion by 2028 from US$16.7 billion last year.
“We share a common goal and vision: to become a developed nation by 2045,” Prabowo said at Merdeka Palace here, with the event broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat.
He also expressed Indonesia’s support for increased Vietnamese investment, particularly in the automotive and agricultural sectors, as both countries aim to enhance food security and contribute to the global food supply.
Indonesia has 123 investment projects in Vietnam, valued at over US$680 million, while Vietnamese investment in Indonesia is growing, with a US$1.2 billion VinFast electric car plant set up in July 2024.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen collaboration in various key areas, including fisheries, the digital economy, green technologies, and emerging high-tech industries.
In the defence and security realm, both countries committed to further deepening ties, with plans for joint military exercises, officer exchanges, enhanced training programmes, and joint patrols.
On regional cooperation, Indonesia and Vietnam reiterated their backing for the ASEAN Community Vision for 2045, which is expected to be formally announced at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in May.
“Both countries agree that peace and stability are essential for regional prosperity. We are committed to strengthening cooperation with other ASEAN partners,” Prabowo added.
He also revealed plans for a return visit to Vietnam, where he hopes to sign an agreement in Hanoi, aimed at resolving longstanding issues related to economic zones in both countries.
During the meeting, the two nations exchanged several key documents, including letters of intent on capacity-building in engineering, the digital economy, science and technology, as well as agreements on aquaculture and central bank cooperation.
Lam is in Indonesia for a three-day state visit that began on Sunday, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
-- BERNAMA
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