Jakarta (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and leaderof the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) MegawatiSoekarnoputri have agreed to continue deepening ties between the two countriesthrough high-level visits and meetings, and fostering partnership in allchannels of party, state, government, parliament and people-to-people contacts.

At their meeting on July 20 as part of the Deputy PM’s visit toIndonesia from June 19-21, the two sides showed delight at the recent progressof the Vietnam-Indonesia relations, especially the promotion of bilateral tiesto strategic partnership in 2013.

Megawati recalled his good impression during her visit to Vietnam in2003 as Indonesia’s President, during which the two sides signed a jointstatement on the framework of friendly and comprehensive partnership enteringthe 21st century and the agreement on delineation of continentalshelf, which laid a firm foundation for the two sides to beef up theirrelations in major areas.

She affirmed that in any position, she will always support the strategicpartnership between the two countries.

Deputy PM Hue highly valued the great contributions of late PresidentSukarno and Megawati to the growth of the Vietnam-Indonesia partnership. Hestressed Vietnam’s constant policy of treasuring the friendship and strategicpartnership with Indonesia and the country’s wish to further develop the tiesin both bilateral and multilateral aspects, thus contributing to reinforcingpeace, unity of the ASEAN and promoting its central role in the region.

During the meeting with Chairman of the Indonesia InvestmentCoordinating Board Thomas Lembong, the two sides were glad at growth in the twocountries’ economci, trade and investment ties. Indonesia currently ranks 30th among 119 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 61 projectsworth nearly 500 million USD.

They noted that the two countries hold high cooperation potential,especially in such promising areas as infrastructure building, energy,telecommunications and banking. They agreed to encourage businesses of bothsides to strengthen information sharing and fostering connectivity to seekpartnership opportunities, thus enhancing competitiveness of ASEAN enterprisesand contributing to the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Deputy PM Hue affirmed Vietnam’s determination to renovate its economyand support the private sector, aiming to utilise all resources to improve its competitivenessand integrate deeply to the world.

He suggested that Indonesia increase investment in Vietnam.


Thomas Lembong said that Vietnam’s hosting of the APEC Year 2017 is agood opportunity to foster intra-bloc solidarity and cooperation of the ASEANas well as the partnership between the bloc and dialogue partners in theregion, confirming Indonesia’s support.

Earlier the same day, Deputy PM Hue also delivered a speech at a seminaron the geopolitical and economic transition in the region and Southeast Asiancountries’ reaction.

He noted that the world is experiencing a new power transition inlargest scale ever since the early 21st century, which greatlyaffects regional countries.

Vietnam, Indonesia and ASEAN share a quite similar foundation in termsof socio-economic conditions, he said, stressing the need for the two countriesand the grouping to strengthen cooperation to reinforce intra-bloc solidarityand coordination to cope with challenges and tap opportunities to serve their securityand development targets, and contributing to ensuring peace, stability,cooperation and prosperity in the region.-VNA