Prime Minister meets Indonesian President ahead of 43rd ASEAN Summit

The two leaders spoke highly of the positive development in the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Indonesia since their meeting in Labuan Bajo last May.

They affirmed that the two countries would step up all-level delegation exchanges in the time ahead to mark the 10th founding anniversary of the strategic partnership in 2023 and looking towards the 70th founding anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations and the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Day and Indonesia's Independence Day in 2025.

Both sides agreed to effectively optimize bilateral cooperation mechanisms and coordinate to well implement signed agreements, including bringing the signed document on maritime cooperation into effect soon, creating momentum to elevate the strategic partnership to a new height, towards a comprehensive strategic partnership in the near future.

Prime Minister Pham suggested the two countries sustain trade growth in a more balanced way, striving to raise bilateral trade value to US$15 billion by 2028, encourage businesses of the two countries to increase investment, especially in such new areas as digital economy, green economy, energy transition and e-vehicle ecosystem development.

Pham called on the two countries to cooperate in new and strategic supply chains while strengthening cooperation in the areas of mutual interest.

He asked the Indonesian side to recognize Viet Nam's efforts in monitoring the operations of fishing boats, and minimizing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Welcoming Pham to Indonesia to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings, President Widodo thanked and highly appreciated Viet Nam's support for and active assistance to Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023.

President Widodo welcomed Vietnamese businesses, including VinFast, to invest in Indonesia and promote cooperation in the development of renewable energy and electric vehicle ecosystem.

Widodo suggested the two countries strengthen marine cooperation, and sustainable fishery cooperation and soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding on fishery cooperation.

Regarding regional and international issues, Prime Minister Pham reassured that Viet Nam supports and works closely with Indonesia to ensure the success of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2023, contributing to fostering solidarity, unity, and centrality of ASEAN and maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and common development in the region.

On the East Sea issue, the two leaders reaffirmed their support for maintaining ASEAN's solidarity and agreed principles in the East Sea issue, especially the early finalization of an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Prime Minister Pham conveyed the invitations of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong to President Widodo to visit Viet Nam soon. President Widodo accepted the invitations with pleasure.

The same day, Prime Minister Pham met with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva./.