Indonesia and Turkey agree to step up ties
Indonesia and Turkey agree to step up ties
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Turkey have agreed to forge closer economic and political ties by strengthening contacts at all tiers of government and society.
Indonesia's President Soeharto and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel decided during a meeting at Merdeka Palace on Tuesday that closer contact was necessary to improve ties between the two countries.
"The two leaders agreed to increase mutual association at the highest levels of government, ministerial level, senior officials level to an even wider scope," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said after the meeting.
"It was also agreed that visits and contacts should also be encouraged between the respective parliaments and also there should be more cultural exchanges," he added.
President Demirel left yesterday morning after a three-day state visit. Accompanying him was his wife and an entourage which included a minister, several senior officials and a delegation of 35 businessmen.
The two-presidents agreed to instruct their ministers to expedite the conclusion of agreements on the protection of investments and avoidance of double taxation.
"This will be important in promoting economic and trade relations between the two sides," Moerdiono said.
Indonesia presently has investment protection agreements with 25 countries and avoidance of double taxation agreements with 30 countries.
According to Moerdiono, Demirel saw tremendous potential for economic relations because Turkey is a trade gateway to Central Asia and Indonesia a gateway to the Asia-Pacific.
Moerdiono further reported that Demirel congratulated Indonesia on its golden anniversary and praised the tremendous developments the country has achieved.
Demirel remarked that 50-years is a relatively short period of time but the developments achieved have been tremendous.
"This can be an example to other countries that are developing," Demirel said as quoted by Moerdiono.
Also on Tuesday, Moerdiono said that President Soeharto had expressed concern about the earthquake in Sakhalin, Russia.
"The President has decided to send aid to the victims of the disaster," he said, adding that exactly how Indonesia would help was still being studied. (mds)