Vietnamese president in RI for talks to improve economic ties

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong started a three-day state visit to Indonesia on Saturday to increase economic ties and resolve contentious issues such as maritime boundaries in the South China Sea.

During bilateral talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri, both leaders agreed to finalize maritime boundaries in the Natuna Sea and also to boost trade through dispensing with visa requirements.

"Hopefully, we will sign the agreement on the continental shelf, the one that we have been discussing for the last 20 years as soon as possible. We have also agreed on visa dispensations," Megawati said during a joint press conference.

She further said that the two leaders had agreed to discuss the possibility to implement the rice import agreement between Vietnam to Indonesia that was signed in Hanoi during Megawati's visit in August.

President Tran said that with the visit he aimed to strengthen trade cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking through an interpreter, Tran said Vietnam wanted to increase bilateral trade to US$1 billion per year, from US$700 million now.

In a bid to boost trade, the two leaders agreed to provide better facilities for businesspeople.

At the end of the bilateral talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of the agreement for the third joint commission on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, and a protocol amending the agreement for the joint commission.

The signing was conducted by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and Vietnamese Minister of Trade Vu Khoan.

The Vietnamese President is slated to have a meeting with People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, and to visit the Pulo Gadung industrial estate and Indonesian in Miniature Park before flying to Brunei Darussalam on Monday.