Top Vietnamese legislator hosts Indonesian President

Vietnam has always treasured and stepped up efforts to work with Indonesia to promote the strategic partnership in a more practical and extensive manner so as to meet their people's aspirations and interests as well as the two countries’ sound friendship and cooperation, founded by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Sukarno and nurtured by generations of leaders, Chairman Hue told his guest.

Widodo stressed that the two countries’ strategic partnership has obtained concrete cooperation results, adding it is now time for Vietnam and Indonesia to strengthen bilateral connections, including in digitalization and high technology, to obtain common achievements.

He greatly valued the parliaments’ role in fostering the strategic partnership, particularly in making laws and policies to speed up energy transition, digital transformation, and innovation.

Echoing his guest’s view, the top Vietnamese legislator voiced his hope that the two countries will elevate the bilateral relations to a new level at an appropriate point of time.

The top Vietnamese legislator stated that the increase of mutual visits at all levels and via all channels, the improvement of the existing cooperation mechanisms’ effectiveness, and the expansion of cooperation between the two countries’ localities and friendship associations will help propel people-to-people ties forward.

He also called on the two sides to ramp up  collaboration in the Halal industry, rice trading, and investment and business partnerships.

President Widodo said the two sides should actively cooperate with each other to outline concrete policies and measures to elevate bilateral trade to US$15 billion by 2028.

At the meeting, the NA Chairman affirmed that Vietnam will continue creating the optimal conditions for foreign investors, including Indonesian ones.

He asked Indonesia to offer favourable conditions and legal procedures for a joint venture between the two countries to become operational soon in the archipelago nation to help build an electric vehicle and battery ecosystem.

He also underlined the need for the two sides to carry out the existing mechanisms on maritime cooperation, reinforce ties in maritime affairs and sustainable fishing, and work hand in hand to settle fishermen and fishing boat-related issues in a goodwill and humanitarian fashion in conformity with the strategic partnership.

Vietnam and Indonesia should enhance closer coordination via the government and parliamentary channels to help reinforce the solidarity, unanimity, and centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), bring into play the role of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and maintain peace and stability in the region, the top legislator said.

The two countries also need to cooperate in accordance with ASEAN’s viewpoint on the East Sea, speed up the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and coordinate in the negotiations on an efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he went on to say.

President Widodo applauded the close cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the House of Representatives of Indonesia, welcoming the two legislatures’ signing of a cooperation agreement in August 2023. He also affirmed support for stronger ties, experience sharing, and exchanges, including visits by high-ranking delegations.

Chairman Hue suggested the two countries offer mutual support at regional and international forums, especially ASEAN, AIPA, ASEAN-led mechanisms, the UN, and the Non-Aligned Movement, on international and regional security and strategic issues.

In response, the Indonesian President voiced his support for Vietnam’s initiative to host the ASEAN Future Forum on fast, sustainable, and people-centred development, and affirmed his nation’s readiness to send senior representatives to the event.