Jakarta (ANTARA) - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, is scheduled to make an official visit to Indonesia from March 9–11, 2025.
According to the plan, To Lam will hold talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to determine ways to strengthen bilateral relations in several fields, particularly economy, diplomacy, defense, and culture.
To Lam's visit is considered significant as it comes at a time when the two countries are marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
In recent years, the two neighbors have worked to strengthen cooperation to bring practical benefits to their people, while developing traditional friendship and strategic partnership in a more substantial and in-depth manner.
Indonesia was the first country in Southeast Asia to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on December 30, 1955.
The traditional friendship built by former Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh and former Indonesian president Soekarno has been nurtured by the leaders and the people of the two countries from generation to generation.
With a strong foundation and the signing of a strategic partnership cooperation, the two countries have gradually opened up opportunities for more comprehensive and extensive cooperation.
The relationship between the two countries has developed well in recent years, with regular exchanges of delegations and high-level contacts at all levels.
Both sides effectively carried out action programs to implement their strategic partnership during the 2019–2023 period and also other practical programs, thereby deepening cooperation in various fields.
Defense and security cooperation between the two countries has also been enhanced.
Cooperation in other important fields such as agriculture, transportation, and people-to-people exchanges has also been promoted.
The Indonesia-Vietnam strategic partnership has been developing strongly and comprehensively in all fields, especially the economy.
After 10 years of their forging a strategic partnership, bilateral trade turnover has reflected a near three-fold increase.
In the period from 2020 to 2024, bilateral trade turnover recorded rapid growth, rising from US$8.07 billion in 2020 to US$16 billion in 2024.
This marks an impressive leap. In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia is currently Vietnam's third-largest trading partner, and Vietnam is Indonesia's fourth-largest trading partner.
This can be a foundation for the two countries to achieve their target of US$18 billion in bilateral trade earlier than expected, that is, by 2028.
In terms of multilateral cooperation, the two countries have maintained coordination at regional and international forums, particularly ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
As an active, proactive, and responsible member, Vietnam has coordinated closely with Indonesia and other ASEAN member states to address regional issues such as the South China Sea issue and the political crisis in Myanmar.
Regarding the South China Sea issue, Vietnam and Indonesia are committed to promoting peace and prosperity in the region, resolving disputes through negotiation, and complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In addition, with the goal of promoting peace and cooperation, the two countries have called on all parties to exercise restraint and condemn aggressive actions that increase tensions and threaten peace, prosperity, and safety in the region.
At the ASEAN and ASEAN plus partners agenda, Indonesia and Vietnam emphasized their commitment and called on all parties to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and to conclude the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC).
This is seen as a step toward building a peaceful, cooperative, and equal environment in the region.
Jakarta and Hanoi have set the most important goal, which is to upgrade their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The two countries aim to become developed by 2045, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of their founding.
Therefore, Vietnam and Indonesia have many opportunities to promote cooperation to achieve their development goals, while actively contributing to peace, cooperation, and development regionally and globally.
The potential for cooperation between the two countries is considered significantly large and needs to be utilized more effectively. Vietnam needs to research ways to promote halal food exports to the Indonesian market.
Indonesia and Vietnam also need to strengthen cooperation in new fields such as green economy, circular economy, renewable energy, semiconductor technology, digital economy, energy conversion, electric vehicle industry, and production of electric vehicle batteries, as well as continue to promote cooperation in fisheries and rice trade.
Furthermore, both sides want to explore cooperation in other important fields such as defense, security, and maritime cooperation; people-to-people exchange, especially among the young people of the two countries; as well as promote tourism partnership.
*) Mohammad Anthoni was a journalist with the ANTARA News Agency from 1990 to 2019.
