Vietnam-Indonesia ties grow on firm foundations: Ambassador
The Vietnam-Indonesia traditional friendship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno and nurtured by many generations of leaders of the two countries, is growing strongly on firm foundations, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong has said.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong poses for a photo with reporters at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – The Vietnam-Indonesia traditionalfriendship, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno and nurturedby many generations of leaders of the two countries, is growing strongly onfirm foundations, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong has said.
Meeting with reporters of local and international press agencies in Jakarta on December 6 ahead of the New Year 2023, the diplomat affirmed that the Government andpeople of Vietnam never forget the consistent support and valuable assistance givenby their Indonesian counterparts to Vietnam’s struggle for nationalindependence and international integration process in the past as well as inthe present cause of national development.
Thong underlined that despite ups and downs in history,Vietnam and Indonesia have always given each other mutual support,coordination, and close, comprehensive and trustworthy cooperation. Theestablishment of the bilateral strategic partnership in 2013 laid a foundationand created an important motivation for the development of the bilateral ties in allfields, he said.
The ambassador held that the Vietnam-Indonesia relationshiphas never been as strong as it is today in the political field with frequenthigh-level meetings and visits by the two countries' senior leaders, with the mostrecent being the phone talks between Party General Secretary NguyenPhu Trong and President Joko Widodo, and the meeting between Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh and President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in early November.
After the COVID-19 pandemic was put under control in both Vietnam and Indonesia, directair routes between the two countries have been resumed, facilitating the travel and promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries,he said.
Thong underlined that trade between the two countries has grown rapidly, reaching 11 billion USD in 2021, surpassing the set target of 10 billion USD. Vietnamis one of the biggest trade partners of Indonesia. Recently, the two sides haveset a new goal of 15 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2028.
In terms of education, he said that the Vietnamese Embassy will work hard tobring Vietnamese students back to Indonesia for study after COVID-19,considering it as a way to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the twocountries.
Announcing that Vietnam and Indonesia will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership next year, Thong said hehoped journalists will contribute their ideas on celebration activities and cover this important event.
The diplomat also affirmed the important role of press agencies inpromoting mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations' people, andpledged to make every effort to contribute to strengthening the relationshipbetween the two countries and deepening people-to-people exchanges./.
There remains room to advance trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia, with the latter being a potential export market of the former in the ASEAN region, according to speakers at a workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 15.
Deputy Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) Doan Anh Tho held a working session with President of the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK) Isma Yatun in Jakarta on September 27 to discuss the audit of COVID-19 response and the role of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the fight against corruption.
The Vietnamese Trade Office in Indonesia has been taking various measures to actively support Vietnamese enterprises in entering Indonesia, given that it is a protected market with many non-tariff barriers, according to Trade Counsellor Pham The Cuong.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on November 11, on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong poses for a photo with reporters at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) 
