Hanoi, September 14, 2024 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính welcomed Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto to Hà Nội on September 14, during which the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations and promoting strategic cooperation between Việt Nam and Indonesia.
Prime Minister Chính congratulated Subianto on his recent election as Indonesia’s President for the 2024-2029 term. He highlighted the significance of the visit, coming as the two nations celebrate 10 years of their strategic partnership and prepare for the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. The visit, Chính emphasized, reflects the strong bond, trust, and determination of both countries to foster cooperation for peace, stability, and mutual prosperity.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister proposed that Indonesia soon sign a rice trade cooperation agreement with Việt Nam and urged for greater access for Vietnamese agricultural products, including Halal goods, in the Indonesian market. He also requested Indonesia’s support in addressing the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning related to Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
In response, President-elect Subianto extended his sympathy over the damages caused by Typhoon Yagi in Việt Nam. He expressed admiration for the resilience of the Vietnamese people, both during their fight for independence and in their current efforts toward national development. He affirmed Indonesia’s commitment to enhancing the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries across a range of sectors.
The leaders agreed on key strategies to deepen their bilateral relationship and maximize the potential for cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and other areas. They reiterated the goal of achieving $18 billion in bilateral trade turnover and pledged to continue reducing trade barriers and facilitating market access, particularly for agricultural and Halal products.
Subianto expressed Indonesia’s interest in partnering with Việt Nam on food and energy security, high technology, and agricultural development. The two sides also agreed on the importance of promoting investments in the digital economy, green economy, and energy transition, as well as collaborating on electric vehicle ecosystems and technical training.
Both leaders also committed to deepening cooperation in defense, security, maritime and fisheries management, and digital transformation. They emphasized the importance of building a digital partnership, expanding e-commerce, and strengthening collaboration on combating transnational crimes and cybercrime.
The meeting also addressed regional and international concerns, with both leaders agreeing on the need to uphold ASEAN solidarity and promote cooperation on regional security matters, particularly in the East Sea (South China Sea). Prime Minister Chính urged Indonesia’s continued support for ASEAN’s common stance on the East Sea issue and for advancing negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
As part of their discussions, Prime Minister Chính also invited Indonesia to send a high-ranking representative to the ASEAN Future Forum and the Partnering for Green Growth & the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, set to be held in Việt Nam in 2025.
