VN, Indonesia commit to close coordination amid fast changing world

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) meets with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Bangkok, Thailand on June 21, 2019

Minh made the above statement at his meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on June 21 on the sidelines of the 34^th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

Minh congratulated Indonesia on successful organization of the presidential and parliamentary elections recently, giving President Joko Widodo a comfortable vitory.

The two sides highly spoke of remarkable advancements in the bilateral ties, agreeing to prepare well for their senior leaders’ visits and contacts, regarding it as a foundation for consolidating political trust and cooperation between the two countries.

They consented to enhance cooperation between their ministries, agencies and localities and promote bilateral cooperative mechanisms as well as address existing issues to maintain the development pace and stability of the bilateral ties.

The two diplomats shared experiences in sustainable economic development, particularly marine economic development and marine natural resource preservation, considering it as one of  the key pillars in the Viet Nam-Indonesia strategic partnership.

On the spirit, the pair agreed to continue talks on demarcation of overlapping exclusive economic zone between the two countries in order to create a legal basis for both sides to effectively monitor their territorial waters and to step up international cooperation.

They also committed to enhancing close coordination and sharing information about fishermen and fishing vessels, handling differences on the basis of humanitarian spirit, their strategic partnership and ASEAN solidarity.

Amid fast and complicated changes in the region and the world, the two sides agreed on the need to further enhance mutual support and policy coordination, especially in 2020 when both Viet Nam and Indonesia are non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Viet Nam assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two diplomats pledged to continue cooperation and information sharing between themselves and with other ASEAN members to maintain solidarity and common voice of the bloc, ensuring peace, security and stability in the East Sea.

Both sides voiced support for accelerating the realization of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and for soon finalizing a practical, effective, and comprehensive Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

By Thuy Dung