President Jokowi arrives in Hanoi
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: On Thursday afternoon, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, accompanied by his delegation, touched down in Hanoi, initiating a significant three-day State visit to Vietnam. This diplomatic mission comes in response to the gracious invitation extended by Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng, underscoring the commitment of both nations to fortify bilateral relations. The visit is poised to foster dialogue, strengthen economic ties, and explore avenues of collaboration between Indonesia and Vietnam, reflecting a shared dedication to regional cooperation and mutual development.
The Indonesian leader was accompanied by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Chief of the Presidential Staff Office Moeldoko, member of the Presidential Advisory Council Ambassador Gandi Sulistiyanto Soeherman and Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi.
They were welcomed at Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi by Chairman of the Presidential Office of Vietnam Lê Khánh Hải, Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Trần Sỹ Thanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hà Kim Ngọc, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Tạ Văn Thông.
This is the second time Indonesian President Widodo has made a State visit to Vietnam, after the first in September 2018.
The visit is expected to contribute to tightening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Indonesia, which has been nurtured and developed for nearly 70 years.
Other than official talks with Vietnamese counterpart Võ Văn Thưởng, the Indonesian leader will also hold discussions with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and Chairman of the National Assembly Vương Đình Huệ during his trip.
Vietnam is Indonesia’s sole Strategic Partner in the ASEAN bloc.
“Welcoming President Joko Widodo to Vietnam it is a testament to Vietnam’s persistent and consistent policies of attaching great importance to relations with our neighbouring countries in ASEAN, including Indonesia,” spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng said.
As part of the visit, high level leaders of both countries will discuss measures and direction in various areas of cooperation such as economic cooperation, trade investment, security, defence, agriculture, in order to further promote the traditional friendship and the strategic partnership in a more in depth and meaningful manner.
Both sides will also discuss issues, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Inside ASEAN, Indonesia is the third largest trade partner of Vietnam and Vietnam is the fourth largest trade partner of Indonesia.
Corporation in other important sectors such as transportation, agriculture, people-to-people exchanges, locality-to-locality cooperation continues to be enhanced in post COVID-19 periods, Hằng noted.
The two countries maintain close coordination in adopting a firm stance at regional and international forums in ASEAN, the United Nations, APEC, the non-aligned movement, among others, according to the spokeswoman.
