(VOVworld) – Vietnamese and Indonesian leaders plan to elevate their bilateral relationship to strategic partnership during a 2-day visit by Vietnam’s President Truong Tan Sang from Thursday. Sang’s trip, at the invitation of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, reiterates Vietnam’s unswerving policy of tightening friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Indonesia. The leaders will use this occasion to seek cooperation opportunities in economics, trade, investment, national defense, and security. They will also use this opportunity to compare notes on regional and global issues of common concern particularly the East Sea disputes.

President Truong Tan Sang arrives in Indonesia. (Photo: VOV)

Prior to the trip, President Sang told Indonesian reporters that Vietnam always attaches importance to relations with its longstanding and important ASEAN partner, Indonesia, which is assuming a steadily growing position in the region and the world alike. Sang said that in the coming time the two countries will intensify their bilateral ties. The foremost task is implementing the Viet Nam-Indonesia Action Plan for the 2012-15 period, which aims at generating stable economic relations with trade revenue exceeding the targeted 5 billion USD in 2015 and reaching 10 billion USD sooner than by 2018. The plan will also seek closer cooperation in politics, security, and national defense. Other potential fields for deepening cooperation are education and training, fishing, oil and gas, culture, sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.

Sang suggested that Vietnam and Indonesia work more side by side on the top priorities to build a stronger ASEAN block. More specifically that means implementing a Roadmap for the ASEAN Community which would involve greater solidarity among its members to heighten ASEAN influence in the region. Regarding the East Sea issue, Sang said ASEAN must stay keen on its stance and promote its role in dispute settlement as the issue, which affects regional peace and security, since this is a common concern of all member countries. ASEAN members need to reach consensus on respecting principles stated in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), ASEAN's Declaration on Six-point Principles in the East Sea, ASEAN-China Joint Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the DOC, towards early completion of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. Sang expressed his hope that Indonesia will remain actively engaged in regional peace, stability, and development.