(VOVworld) - The Speaker of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Marzuki Alie arrived in Hanoi yesterday, starting a two-day working visit to Vietnam.

The visit shows the determination of the two countries to bring bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership. Alie’s visit follows visits in 2010 to Vietnam by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Taufik Kiemas. In 2003, Vietnam and Indonesia issued a joint statement on a framework of comprehensive friendship and cooperation for the 21^st century during a visit by President Megawati Sukarnoputri. During a visit to Indonesia by PM Nguyen Tan Dung last September, the two sides signed a Vietnam – Indonesia action program for 2012 – 2015, which serves as an important legal basis for the two countries to realize their goal of bringing bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership. Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh commented on the prospects of bilateral relations: "We have a good prospect of bringing Vietnam – Indonesia to a strategic partnership. We have built a strategic partnership with other countries but none in Southeast Asia. Building a strategic partnership with Indonesia will benefit both countries and contribute to peace, development and stability in Southeast Asia". 

During the visit, Alie and NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung will discuss further cooperation in international arenas to boost the role of ASEAN, promote ASEAN’s parliaments in building a common community by 2015, and bring into full play the bloc’s role in the Asia Pacific region.