Historic Milestone: Vietnam - Indonesia Upgrade to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Vietnam and Indonesia upgrading their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a historic milestone, opening a new era for cooperation between the two countries in all channels and fields.

On the afternoon of March 10, after a solemn welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace - Merdeka Palace (Jakarta, Indonesia), General Secretary To Lam held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

Bringing Vietnam - Indonesia relations into a new era of cooperation

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the General Secretary's visit has special significance in the year the two countries celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and is a great driving force to bring the relationship between the two countries into a new stage of development, increasingly strong, deep and substantial.

General Secretary To Lam and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the upgrading of bilateral relations. Photo: VNA

Sharing good memories of the country and people of Vietnam during his visit to Vietnam in September 2024, the Indonesian President expressed his admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam's history of fighting for independence as well as his feelings for Vietnam.

The President said that the two countries have many similarities in history, fought together against colonialism, and shared common values, namely independence, sovereignty, prosperity and happiness for the people; and shared the same vision, both hoping to become advanced, high-income countries by 2045, the year of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country.

Vietnam has always been an important partner of Indonesia in the region and Indonesia wishes to further develop relations with Vietnam.

General Secretary To Lam expressed his gratitude for President Prabowo Subianto’s special affection for President Ho Chi Minh, the country and people of Vietnam. Vietnam always attaches importance to and gives high priority to its relations with Indonesia, a country with a leading role in the region.

The General Secretary highly appreciated the Indonesian Government for resolutely and effectively implementing many major policies, strengthening national self-reliance and development, taking people as the center, promoting its role and position in the region and the world, and actively contributing to peace, stability and development.

Photo: VNA

The General Secretary informed about the situation in all aspects of Vietnam and the whole country is striving to enter a new era, the era of the Vietnamese people's rise.

The two leaders expressed their delight that the Vietnam-Indonesia friendship, founded by two outstanding leaders, President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno, has continuously developed strongly over the past 70 years, becoming increasingly substantive and effective, especially after establishing the Strategic Partnership in 2013.

Based on the solid achievements, the two sides agreed to upgrade the Vietnam - Indonesia relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam is Indonesia's first Comprehensive Strategic Partner in ASEAN; this is a historic event, bringing Vietnam - Indonesia relations into a new era of deeper, more comprehensive and substantive cooperation.

Striving to soon reach 18 billion USD in trade turnover

General Secretary To Lam and President Prabowo Subianto agreed to continue deepening political trust through promoting exchanges and contacts...

The two sides promoted defense and security cooperation, information exchange, search and rescue, and increased experience sharing in preventing transnational crimes, especially online fraud, human trafficking, forced labor, and terrorist threats.

The two leaders agreed to expand and deepen economic cooperation; promote connectivity between the two economies in the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation and development. The two countries will remove difficulties and trade barriers, support businesses in implementing import and export, especially agricultural and aquatic products, and strive to soon reach 18 billion USD in trade turnover towards balance.

In addition, promoting agricultural cooperation and ensuring food security; encouraging and facilitating businesses of the two countries to invest in each other's markets, especially in new fields...

General Secretary To Lam holds talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Photo: VNA

The two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in specialized fields, expand cooperation in science and technology, innovation, information technology, towards building digital partnerships, digital economy, digital transformation...

Vietnam and Indonesia promote people-to-people exchanges, especially among the young generation, through cultural, sports, education and training, tourism and aviation connection activities.

The two leaders appreciated the two countries' regular coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums and organizations, especially at ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement. At the same time, they affirmed their desire for the two countries to coordinate more closely within ASEAN, to jointly build a strong ASEAN, promote its central role, and strengthen solidarity within the bloc.

Discussing regional and international issues, the two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; peacefully resolving disputes, not threatening or using force, and resolving disputes by peaceful means....

The two leaders agreed to call for full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promote negotiations on a substantive and effective COC in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS.

Speaking to the press afterwards, the Indonesian President said he would soon visit Vietnam and welcomed the signed agreements, hoping that the cooperation agreements would bring practical results contributing to the socio-economic development of the two countries.

General Secretary To Lam said that the two sides' announcement to upgrade relations is a historic milestone, opening a new era for cooperation between the two countries in all channels and fields.

To date, Vietnam has had Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with 11 countries, including China (May 2008), the Russian Federation (July 2012), India (September 2016), South Korea (December 2022), the United States (September 2023), Japan (November 2023), Australia (March 2024), France (October 2024), Malaysia (November 2024), New Zealand (February 2025) and Indonesia.