Vietnamese president in RI for talks to improve economic ties

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.