Jakarta (ANTARA) - The defense ministries of Indonesia and Vietnam have agreed to step up cooperation in the procurement of weapons and other defense equipment.
The cooperation was highlighted during a meeting between Minister of Defense, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Vietnamese National Defense Minister Phan Van Giang at the former's office in Central Jakarta on Monday.
"Among the points discussed at the meeting was defense industry cooperation. The two countries have been collaborating for the purchase of aircraft, helicopters, and bombs," the Defense Ministry's information bureau head, Brigadier General Frega Ferdinand Wenas Inkiriwang, said in Jakarta.
However, he did not specify the types of fighter jets or helicopters involved in the defense cooperation.
Inkiriwang said that the cooperation in defense equipment procurement is aimed at enhancing the military posture of both Southeast Asian nations.
He further informed the media that the Indonesian and Vietnamese defense ministries have agreed to intensify joint maritime patrols to maintain security and stability in Southeast Asia.
He said that while Sjamsoeddin and Phan discussed maritime security, they did not specifically touch upon the situation in the South China Sea, where disputes and tensions occasionally arise between China and several Southeast Asian states, including Vietnam and Indonesia.
He informed that at the end of the bilateral meeting, Minister Sjamsoeddin invited his Vietnamese counterpart to attend the biennial international Indo Defence Expo and Forum 2025, which is set to take place in June 2025.
Minister Phan cordially accepted the invitation and decided to send his deputy to the upcoming event, he added.
Inkiriwang expressed the hope that Indonesia and Vietnam will succeed in further strengthening their defense capacity and enhancing their long-standing bilateral relations.
