Vietnamese Prime Minister Holds Talks With Indonesian President Ahead of Regional Leaders’ Meeting

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrives at the Bogor Presidential Palance for his first-ever meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Photo: VGP

      >>> PM Pham Minh Chinh arrives in Jakarta for ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting

President Widodo warmly congratulated Pham upon his election as Prime Minister of Viet Nam, expressing his admiration for the country’s achievements in COVID-19 management and economic recovery.

Indonesia attaches importance to further strengthening the traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Viet Nam, Widodo affirmed.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palance, April 23, 2021. Photo: VGP

Meanwhile, Pham said Viet Nam remains consistent with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multi-lateralization and diversification of external relations, and proactive and active international integration.

The country treasures and will spare no efforts to consolidate and expand the strategic partnership with Indonesia, Pham reiterated.

The two leaders agreed to coordinate in realizing the action plan for the implementation of the Viet Nam-Indonesia strategic partnership for 2019-2023 period as well as the Vision for bilateral defense cooperation for 2018-2023 period.

The pair discussed measures to beef up economic cooperation, especially ways to ease trade barriers in a bid to soon raise the two-way trade volume to US$10 billion in a more balanced manner.

Photo: VGP

They agreed to soon resume flights when the circumstance allows, consider Vietnamese low-cost airline VietJet Air to open air routes from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to Jakarta, and foster pharmacy, sea and ocean cooperation, including partnership between the two countries’ coast guards.

The two leaders underlined the necessity to soon complete negotiation on exclusive economic zone demarcation to create legal framework for the sides to further enhance cooperation and reduce illegal fishing, contributing to maintain peace, cooperation and development in the region.

President Widodo spoke highly of Pham’s participation in the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting, which indicates Viet Nam’s sense of responsibility.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indonesian President Joko Widodo hold talks the Bogor Presidential Palance. Photo: VGP

Both sides vowed to continue close and effective collaboration at regional and international forums, particularly ASEAN and the United Nations.

They also agreed to work with other ASEAN member States to step up the settlement of Myanmar issue towards swift stabilization of the situation, reduction of violence and civilian casualties, and restoration of dialogues to seek peaceful solutions to Mynamar, and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

Both Pham and Widodo agreed to maintain ASEAN’s shared positions on the East Sea issue, effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and early conclude negotiation on an efficient and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea  (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

PM Pham took the occasion to invite President Widodo to visit Viet Nam at convenient time and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure./.

By Quang Minh