Indonesia, Vietnam Sign 6 MoUs
As many as six Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Indonesia were signed during a visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguy?n Phú Tr?ng to Indonesia to meet President Joko Jokowi Widodo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (23/8).
The MoUs are among others:
- MoU on education cooperation which was signed by Indonesian Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy and Vietnam’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ph?m Bình Minh.
- MoU on village development which was signed by Indonesian Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo and Vietnam’s Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong.
- MoU on coal cooperation between Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia and Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam.
- MoU on utilization of gas in cross-border region in the continental shelf which was signed by Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan and Vietnams Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh.
- MoU on cooperation on legal sector which was signed by Indonesian Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly and Vietnams Justice Minister Le Thanh Long.
- Letter of Intent on maritime cooperation enhancement which was signed by Head of Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) Vice Admiral Arie Soedewo and Commander of Vietnam Coast Guard Major General Nguyen Quang Dam.
President Jokowi, in a joint press statement with Nguy?n Phú Tr?ng, asserted that Vietnam has been Indonesias strategic partner since 2013. Indonesia and Vietnam are united by ASEAN. Currently, Vietnam is the chairman of APEC and will host the APEC Summit in November 2017.
Indonesia supports the Vietnams chairmanship, and in the meeting we focused on three major issues, namely cooperations on maritime and fisheries, trade and investment, as well as regional issues, the President added.
On maritime and fisheries sector, the President added, Indonesia and Vietnam have agreed to accelerate the process of delimitation of the region and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) negotiations between Indonesia and Vietnam. Meanwhile, on fisheries sector both countries have agreed to follow up Indonesia’s proposal for the realization of Sustainable Fisheries, and working together to overcome Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU Fishing).
Regarding cooperation on trade, President Jokowi said that over the past three years, trade value between the two countries continues to increase.
We have discussed several new measures and initiatives to reach the US$ 10 billion target in trading, the President added.
President Jokowi also asserted that as the worlds main pepper and rubber producer, both Government have agreed to take concrete measures in managing and maintaining the stability of price, as well as to improve the quality of that two commodities.
Meanwhile, on investment sector, the Government of Indonesia hopes Indonesian investors in Vietnam continue to receive protection and facilities.
According to the President, he and the Vietnamese counterpart also shared their ideas about the region, particularly about ASEAN which is entering its 50th anniversary. They also underlined the importance to maintain the unity and centrality of ASEAN, as well as the importance to cooperate in manifesting the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
We also welcomed the progresses achieved within the Code of Conduct framework that will become a solid foundation for a normal, comprehensive arrangement of South China Sea, President Jokowi said adding that both countries have also agreed to make ASEAN as a motor to create peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
For the record, Vietnam is a socialist republic with a one-party system in which the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam is an integral part of the state, and has the highest authority and power that transcends the President as well as Prime Minister. (DNA/OJI/ES)(RA/MMB/YM/Naster)
