Promoting Vietnam-Indonesia cooperation in key areas

Reporter (PV): Could you please tell us the significance of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue's official visit to Indonesia this time?

Ambassador Ta Van Thong: This official visit to Indonesia by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is of great significance in further strengthening the connection between the two countries and peoples in general, as well as promoting parliamentary cooperation in particular.

Over the past years, the Vietnam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership has developed strongly in all political, economic, cultural and social fields. The two countries' senior leaders have continuously visited and met each other and always committed to promoting bilateral relations in all fields. In terms of economy, the two countries are striving to achieve the target of bringing bilateral trade turnover to 15 billion USD this year...

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong.

PV: The 10 years of Vietnam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership have helped the two countries reap many important achievements. How can we promote this relationship to go deeper in the future, Ambassador?

Ambassador Ta Van Thong: The signed action programs have deepened bilateral cooperation in all areas of politics, diplomacy, national defense and security, economy, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchange. The two sides are completing the action program for the 2024-2028 period to sign as soon as possible.

Cooperation mechanisms such as the Foreign Ministers' Bilateral Cooperation Committee and the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation are important platforms for implementing specific cooperation contents.

On that positive development momentum, the two countries need to continue promoting cooperation in key areas so that the relationship becomes increasingly deep, substantive and effective.

The two countries need to continue to increase delegation exchanges and promote extensive cooperation in the fields of defense and security; continue to promote high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts; maintain and effectively promote existing cooperation mechanisms.

In addition, the two sides need to continue promoting the tradition of close and effective coordination at multilateral organizations and forums, contributing to strengthening solidarity and the central role of ASEAN, maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region as well as in the world.

Vietnam strongly supports Indonesia's priorities in its role as ASEAN Chair 2023, believing that under Indonesia's leadership, ASEAN will fully promote the goals set out in the agenda, towards a broader role in the Indo-Pacific regional architecture.

In terms of economy, trade and investment, the two sides need to focus on promoting bilateral trade growth solutions, aiming for new and higher goals for two-way trade. In ASEAN, Indonesia is the largest market with more than 285 million consumers, Vietnam is the third largest market with 100 million people and impressive economic growth rate. Ministries and sectors of the two countries need to study and promote economic cooperation, including developing balanced trade, actively exploiting the potential for cooperation in new fields.

Regarding culture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, the two countries need to strengthen connections and people-to-people exchanges through the exchange of art troupes, mass and local associations. Both sides need to increase the number of scholarships for students from one country to study and work in the other. In the near future, Indonesia can become one of the destinations chosen by Vietnamese students in Southeast Asia.

The tourism potential of each country also needs to be exploited more strongly, cooperating to complement each other through tourism linkage products, promoting and enhancing understanding of each other's history, traditions and culture. Along with that, the two sides need to increase frequency and consider opening new flight routes connecting tourist destinations between the two countries.

PV : How does the Ambassador assess the potential for Vietnam-Indonesia maritime cooperation?

Ambassador Ta Van Thong: In recent times, the two sides have closely coordinated to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of maritime and fisheries. The leaders of the two countries also strongly committed to promoting maritime cooperation as one of the potential fields, contributing to increasingly deepening bilateral economic cooperation. Recently, the Minister of Fisheries and Fisheries of Indonesia visited and worked in Vietnam to exchange, discuss and propose measures to further promote cooperation in this field.

The Vietnam Coast Guard also signed a cooperation agreement with the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (December 2021), contributing to strengthening security in the common maritime border area between the two countries.

Vietnam contributes effective parliamentary measures

PV: Could you please share your expectations about National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue leading the Vietnamese delegation to attend AIPA-44 as well as Vietnam's contributions?

Ambassador Ta Van Thong: This year, the Vietnamese National Assembly has shown a very active and proactive role and has made many contributions to AIPA activities to further strengthen the friendly cooperation between the Parliaments of ASEAN member countries.

I believe that Vietnam will continue to play an important role in facilitating discussions and shaping the outcomes of AIPA-44. Vietnam has proposed three draft resolutions to address key regional challenges and promote cooperation among AIPA Member Parliaments. Vietnam’s draft resolution proposals demonstrate its commitment to issues such as promoting innovation, science and technology development; and digital transformation with a focus on women.

As the country with the highest number of female parliamentarians among AIPA members, Vietnam has an important voice in promoting greater political participation of women in the ASEAN region. The AIPA Women Parliamentarians Group (WAIPA) Committee, established in 1998, is currently promoting the initiative to enhance women’s capacity and leadership through women’s political participation, which was launched this year.

As the host of the 14th AIPACAUCUS Conference, the National Assembly of Vietnam launched the Practical Handbook on Promoting the Implementation of the ASEAN Guidelines for Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture and Forestry to be presented at the AIPA-44 General Assembly. By addressing these pressing concerns, Vietnam contributes to the overall objectives of AIPA-44 in providing effective parliamentary measures for ASEAN parliaments to be more responsive.

PV: How does the Ambassador evaluate Vietnam's current international role and position?

Ambassador Ta Van Thong: It can be said that since implementing the policy of renovation, opening up and implementing an open and independent foreign policy, Vietnam has become an active member of almost all important international and regional organizations in the world.

Vietnam has been a member of ASEAN since 1995. Since then, Vietnam has always made very positive and responsible contributions to building and further strengthening the solidarity and central role of ASEAN, thereby contributing more to enhancing cooperation and maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world.

PV : Thank you, Ambassador!

WIN

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