Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Photo: VNA) Duringtheir talks in Indonesia’s Bogor city, Widodo congratulated Chinh onhis election as Prime Minister of Vietnam, and expressed his admiration for achievementsVietnam has recorded in the COVID-19 combat as well as economic recovery anddevelopment.
Indonesiaattaches great importance to and wishes to continuously advance the traditionalfriendship and strategic partnership with Vietnam, he affirmed.
For hispart, Chinh reiterated Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance,and multilateralisation and diversification of relations, being a responsible memberof the international community, and intensively and extensively integratinginto the world.
Vietnamwill work harder to continuously consolidate and expand the strategic partnership,he pledged.
Thetwo sides rejoiced at the practical and intensive development of the bilateralcooperation, and agreed to coordinate to effectively implement the actionprogramme for 2019-2023, the strategic partnership and the joint vision ondefence cooperation for 2018-2022.
The leadersalso discussed measures to promote the bilateral economic ties, especially how to reducetrade barriers and remove difficulties facing businesses, in an effort to soonbring the two-way trade to 10 billion USD, towards cutting Vietnam’s trade deficit.
Theyconsented to soon resume flights at a suitable time, and consider allowing Vietnam’sVietjet Air to open flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Jakarta ofIndonesia.
Thecountries will also step up collaboration in pharmaceuticals, and inmaritime cooperation, including partnerships between their coast guards.
The two leaders affirmed that they attach special importance to the need to soon completenegotiations on the boundary of exclusive economic zones between the twocountries, in order to create a legal corridor for the countries to enhancecooperation and reduce illegal fishing cases, thus creating a model in dealingwith differences at sea between nations, contributing to protecting peace, cooperation,and development in the region.
Widodo highly values Chinh’s attendance at the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting rightafter the latter took office, which, he said, demonstrates Vietnam’s responsibility.
Thetwo sides pledged to further their close and effective cooperation at regionaland international forums, especially ASEAN and the UN, and work togetherwith other ASEAN member countries to press ahead with the settlement of the Myanmar issue, towards stability, the reduction of violence and casualties for peopleand the resumption of dialogues between parties to seek peaceful solutions, forpeace and stability in the region and the world at large.
Regardingthe East Sea issue, they agreed to maintain ASEAN’s stance on the matter,including maintaining peace, stability, security and safety of navigation andaviation, effectively realising the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea, and soon completing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in theEast Sea (COC) in an effective and efficient manner, in line with internationallaw, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982UNCLOS).
Onthis occasion, Chinh invited Widodo to visit Vietnam at a convenient time. The Indonesian President accepted the invitation with pleasure./.
VNA
