Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese President NguyenXuan Phuc and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo discussed cooperationbetween the two countries as well as regional and international issues ofshared concern during their online talks on July 15.

Widodo congratulated Phuc on his new position as Presidentof Vietnam, and affirmed that Indonesia wishes to lift its traditionalfriendship and strategic partnership with Vietnam to a new high.

For his part, Phuc stressed that Indonesia is alwaysVietnam’s close and trustworthy friend, expressing his hope to welcome theIndonesian President in Vietnam at an appropriate time.

The leaders concurred to enhance coordination and theexchange of experience in COVID-19 response and vaccine access.

Widodo lauded Vietnam’s achievements in pandemic containmentand socio-economic development.

The Vietnamese leader shared difficulties facing Indonesia in the COVID-19combat, and expressed his belief that the country will soon put the pandemicunder control and recover its economy.

He used the occasion to thank the Indonesian side forits cooperation in protecting Vietnamese citizens affected by the pandemic, andcalled on Indonesia to further facilitate their health check-up, quarantine andtreatment when necessary.

Both Presidents commended progress in the bilateralcollaboration across spheres, especially economy and trade, saying the two-waytrade still reached 8.2 billion USD in 2020 and 4.5 billion USD in the firstfive months of this year despite difficulties presented by COVID-19.

They agreed to increase all-level exchanges andmeetings in a flexible manner, and effectively materialise bilateralcooperation mechanisms, while pressing ahead with the implementation of the2019-2023 action programme to realise the strategic partnership and the JointVision on Defence Cooperation for 2017-2022.

To boost post-pandemic economic recovery and development, the leaders committed to instructing relevant agencies to promote coordination with a view to soon raising two-way trade to 10billion USD.

They consented that the two countries will ease theimposition of trade barriers and facilitate trade, investment and connectivityactivities, particularly the export and import of rice and other agriculturalproducts.

The two sides will also step up negotiations on thedemarcation of the overlapping exclusive economic zone, and address emergingissues in the spirit of the friendship and strategic partnership.

The Presidents exchanged views on regional and internationalissues of shared concern, including those regarding the East Sea and the Myanmarsituation.

They agreed to enhance coordination at regional andmultilateral organisations and forums.

Phuc congratulated Indonesia on its assumption of G20Presidency in 2022 for the first time, saying he believes that the country will help promote and ensure ASEAN’s centrality, and include the bloc’s cooperationpriorities in the G20 agenda./.