VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo encouraged the strengthening of cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam in a number of respects. During a bilateral meeting with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit held at the Taj Diplomatic Enclave Hotel, New Delhi, India, on Friday, January 26, 2018, he raised the discussion about two main points that need to be made the attention of both countries.

"First, I want to re-emphasize the importance of accelerating the completion of negotiations on exclusive economic zone (ZEE)," he said.

The discussion is expected to create stability in the waters of both countries such as preventing the occurrence of incidents or tension in the waters. In addition, negotiations on ZEE can also be accompanied by cooperation in the wider field of terrorism and maritime handling.

"In this regard I welcome the achievement of a preliminary agreement relating to the ZEE delimitation area last November.I asked that the two countries' negotiating teams be able to immediately reach a shared understanding of the potential delimitation of the ZEE boundary," he continued.

Meanwhile, the second focus the president has been trying to raise is the policy in the automotive sector that Vietnam implements. The policy regulates the standards and requirements of vehicles imported into the country.

The Head of State said that to comply with the policy taking effect as ofJanuary 2018 takes considerable time and cost. The President expressed his concerns if the policy had implications for the disruption of increased trade cooperation between the two countries over the past three years.

"I see that the policy could have negative implications for Indonesian exports to the Vietnamese market, especially for completely build-up vehicles and completely knock-down vehicles," he said.

To that end, President Joko Widodo asked the Prime Minister of Vietnam to provide an opportunity for Indonesia to learn more detailed rules and policies.

"I hope the Vietnamese government can provide an opportunity for Indonesia to study this policy, consider differences in standards and regulations between countries, and provide a transition period for the exporting country," he said.

President Jokowi also urged that six agreements in education, law, gas utilization in the border region of the continental shelf, rural development, strengthening of maritime security cooperation, and coal supply signed last year can continue to be implemented.

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that both countries have discussed the issue of ZEE delimitation. "We have held talks 10 times, there is progress but we have to push for progress," said Retno.

On the occasion, President Jokowi and PM Nguyễn immediately instructed his staff to accelerate the completion of ZEE.

Accompanying the President during the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Special Staff Coordinator of President Teten Masduki./// (Release Protocol, Press and Media Sector Secretariat of the President)