Indonesian Ambassador: 'Vietnam is a partner with huge potentiality'

TIN LIÊN QUAN
	Joint Press Statement: State Visit to Singapore by President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam His Excellency Tran Dai Quang
	Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Could you tell us the meaning and the aims of the visit?

Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 11 September 2018 for a state visit and attending World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN. This is the first state visit in the past 5 years. The last one was in 2013 when President Truong Tan Sang visited Indonesia and both countries agreed to elevate comprehensive to strategic partnership. The state visit is aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between both countries especially in economic sector and maritime affairs.

Indonesia’s Ambassador to Vietnam  Ibnu Hadi. (Photo: TG&VN)

What are the main contents of the visit?

During the state visit, both head of states witnessed the signing of Strategic Partnership Action Plan 2019 – 2023 by Indonesian Foreign Minister and Vietnamese Foreign Minister which will be a guidance in implementing and strengthening strategic partnership for the next 5 years.  This action plan is the the successor of the previous Action Plan aimed to continue the progress made under  Action Plan 2014 – 2018.  The signing of the Action Plan is the commitment of Indonesia and Vietnam to deepen strategic partnership. As Indonesian President said, the new Action Plan is to expand the field of partnership between Indonesia and Vietnam such as industrial and intellectual property innovation, creative economy, digital economy, and human resource development in order to face the Industrial Revolution 4.0.

Both Presidents highlighted economic cooperation of the two countries, especially on the growh in bilateral trade which reached 6.8 billion USD in 2018. The total of bilateral trade is expected to reach 10 billion USD or even more in 2020. To achieve the target, one of the efforts to be carried out is to eliminate trade barriers that currently still occur, including exports of Indonesian automotive products.  Futhermore, Indonesian President also expressed the desire of Indonesian investors to develop their investments in Vietnam. For information, Indonesia is among the earliest countries to invest in Vietnam when Don Moi start in 1986. Therefore, President Joko Widodo hoped that President Trần Đại Quang will be able to protect Indonesian investors in Vietnam and provide fair and good treatment. 

In the maritime affairs, both countries agreed to work together in combating illegal fishing by signing Joint Communique in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.  Furthermore, Indonesia and Vietnam also agreed to intensify negotiation in Exlusive Economic Zone (EEZ) delimitation.

Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 11 September 2018 for a state visit and attending World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN. (Photo: Nguyễn Hồng)

What are your assessments about the status of our relation in recent years bilaterally and in ASEAN framework?

Since the beginning of the independence of both countries, President Ho Chi Minh has been a good friend of President Soekarno. Now, after more than 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1955, Indonesia and Vietnam bilateral relations have been going well without any serious issues that disrupt bilateral relations.  Until now both countries have signed more than 30 bilateral agreements to facilitate cooperation in various fields.

Over the past decade, strong bilateral ties have been marked with frequent high-level visit between both countries leaders. On 22-24 August 2017, Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong visited Indonesia and in the same year President Joko Widodo attended APEC Economic Leaders Week (AELW) hosted by Vietnam in Danang on 11-12 November 2018. This week on 11 – 12 September, President Joko Widodo successfully concluded a state visit to Vietnam. 

In economic field, both countries trade and investment cooperations in the last few years have shown positve growth. In 2017, Indonesia – Vietnam trade value increased 8.64% to 6,8 billion USD.  Last year, Indonesia's investment value to Vietnam also rose 36% and vice versa from Vietnam to Indonesia is estimated at about 300%. In the upcoming years, Indonesia is optimist that the relations between both countries will be closer and stronger and can reach 10 billion USD or even more in bilateral trade.

In the ASEAN context, Vietnam is very important partner for Indonesia. Vietnam is the only Indonesia’s strategic partner in ASEAN. Indonesia considers Vietnam as a partner with huge potentiality. In the midst of global economy uncertainties, Indonesia appraises Vietnam for maintaining high GDP growth of 6.8% in 2017 and alleviating poverty from 60% to 7%. In line with ASEAN economic integration process, Vietnam’s domestic market with 94 million people is a potential market for Indonesian business entities.

What should the two countries do to cooperate in many regional economic initiatives?

WEF on ASEAN was a great opportunity for ASEAN to show to the world of ASEAN economic resilience and ASEAN's strong commitment to development and poverty alleviation.  In regional level and in the context of WEF, Indonesia and Vietnam strategic partnership should also be able to deal with the impact of Industry 4.0 revolution which among others are the increasing of unemployement and prosperity gap.  Both countries should work together and be supportive to each other in addressing the challenges of Industry 4.0 especially in relation with human resources development and transfer of technology, and last but not least in narrowing the gap of readiness among 10 member countries of ASEAN.

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