Indonesia and Vietnam have agreed to cooperate in five sectors, namely education, rural development, coal fields, gas utilization at contingent borders, law and marine, and coastal safeguards.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), in a joint press statement with Vietnam Socialist Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, noted that the bilateral meeting focused on three main issues.

"The improvement of cooperation is in the field of maritime and fisheries, trade and investment, and maritime and fishery areas," the president stated.

According to him, the meeting with Secretary General Nguyen and the delegation was open and productive.

"Since 2013, Indonesia and Vietnam are also unified in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Vietnam is currently the Chair of APEC and will host the APEC Summit in Nov," he remarked.

Jokowi and Phu Trong witnessed the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the cooperation in five fields.

The MoU on education was signed by the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Muhajir Effendy.

The rural development cooperation was signed by Indonesian Village Minister, Development of Underdeveloped Region and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam.

Cooperation in the field of coal, gas utilization at contingent border was signed by Indonesias Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh.

Cooperation in the field of law was signed by Vietnams Justice Minister Le Thanh and Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly.

On that occasion, Indonesians Sea Security Agency (Bakamla) Chief Arie Soedewo and Vietnamese Coast Guard Commander Lieutenant Nguyen also signed a joint letter of statement.

Earlier, Widodo met Nguyen Phu Trong to discuss the South China Sea issue.

On the occasion, Widodo highlighted the importance of maintaining unity and centrality of the ASEAN.

"We have spoken about the importance of working together, as well as the 2025 vision of the ASEAN community and have also discussed the progress achieved in building a solid basis for the comprehensive norms regulation in the South China Sea," he noted.

Widodo stated that the two countries had also agreed to make ASEAN a driving force for creating regional peace, stability, and welfare.

Meanwhile, Trong remarked that his party believed that the talks to deal with the South China Sea issue were fruitful.

"In addressing the South China Sea problem, I am satisfied that this meeting will improve relations and ensure a good outcome for both countries, especially the contribution of all parties, including the people," he pointed out.

Trong added that his party was grateful for the warm welcome extended by Widodo and the Indonesian people and expressed hope for a stronger bilateral relation.

Source: ANTARA