Vietnam and Indonesia Pledge to Elevate Strategic Partnership to New Heights
Hà Nội, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bùi Thanh Sơn, and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, convened on Wednesday to deliberate measures aimed at further fortifying the robust Strategic Partnership between their respective nations across a spectrum of sectors.
The discussions transpired as the two dignitaries co-chaired the 5th session of the Việt Nam-Indonesia Bilateral Cooperation Committee (JCBC) in Hà Nội.
Expressing profound appreciation for his counterpart’s visit, Minister Sơn underscored the significance of bolstering high-level agreements, particularly in the aftermath of the state visit to Việt Nam by the President of Indonesia in January 2024, and in anticipation of commemorating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.
Minister Sơn extended congratulations to Indonesia on the successful conduct of the general elections earlier this year, expressing confidence in Indonesia’s continued prosperity, elevation in international standing, and attainment of developed nation status by 2045, marking their centennial anniversary.
In return, Minister Retno Marsudi conveyed delight in revisiting Vietnam and lauded the nation’s strides in multifaceted development. She affirmed Indonesia’s esteem for and aspiration to deepen the Strategic Partnership with Vietnam.
Both ministers concurred on the deepening and burgeoning cooperation between their nations, yielding tangible benefits for their citizens and positively contributing to regional peace, stability, and development.
Of note was the remarkable advancement in economic and trade collaboration in recent years, with bilateral trade reaching US$14 billion in 2023 and $3.6 billion in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 20 per cent surge compared to the same period last year.
Within ASEAN, Indonesia presently stands as Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner, while Vietnam ranks as Indonesia’s fourth-largest. This noteworthy progress underscores the substantial growth since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership framework in June 2013, with trade turnover nearly tripling.
The ministers pledged to bolster high-level exchanges, augment the efficacy of existing cooperation mechanisms, finalize the 2024-28 Action Plan, and deepen political trust. They resolved to substantiate bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors, with the aim of elevating the bilateral relationship to unprecedented heights.
In pursuit of achieving bilateral trade of $18 billion by 2028 in a more balanced manner, both sides outlined plans for organizing trade promotion activities, facilitating trade connections, and supporting businesses in accessing each other’s markets. Priority areas for investment include fisheries, infrastructure, renewable energy, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and digital transformation.
Minister Sơn advocated for the mitigation of technical barriers against Vietnamese exports and urged facilitation for the entry and consumption of Vietnamese-made halal products in the Indonesian market.
Both parties vowed to enhance cooperation in defense and security, combat transnational crimes, bolster air connectivity, reinforce collaboration in agriculture, fisheries, education, tourism, and foster people-to-people exchanges.
Additionally, the ministers exchanged viewpoints on regional and international matters of mutual interest, including the East Sea (South China Sea) and Myanmar. They reaffirmed their commitment to coordinating and supporting each other in multilateral and regional organizations and forums, including the United Nations, ASEAN, and Mekong cooperation.
Emphasizing the importance of unity and adherence to agreed-upon ASEAN principles in addressing the East Sea issue, both ministers pledged to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region in alignment with international law, including UNCLOS 1982. They advocated for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and actively supported the expeditious conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).
Concluding the meeting, the two foreign ministers signed the minutes, agreeing to convene the sixth meeting in Indonesia in 2026.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Sơn invited his Indonesian counterpart for a leisurely stroll around the iconic Hoàn Kiếm Lake and indulged in local delicacies, including phở and coffee in Hà Nội, setting a congenial tone for their day of deliberations.
