In a landmark meeting aimed at bolstering bilateral relations, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indonesian President Joko Widodo have expressed a high level of satisfaction regarding the progressive development of their countries’ cooperation across various sectors. Significantly, they have agreed to deepen their ties, particularly in the burgeoning field of Halal industry.
Hosting President Widodo in Hanoi this Friday, Prime Minister Chinh emphasized the historic significance of this state visit. This high-profile engagement is set to inject new vitality into the Vietnam-Indonesia relationship, building upon a decade-long strategic partnership and paving the way for the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2025.
President Widodo underscored Vietnam’s strategic importance to Indonesia within the Southeast Asian region. This sentiment mirrors the growing significance both nations hold for each other in regional geopolitics and economics.
A critical element of their discussions revolved around the deepening of strategic trust, a factor that has been steadily strengthening through regular high-level exchanges and meetings. The leaders highlighted notable advancements in multiple cooperation areas, including security, defense, maritime affairs, agriculture, fisheries, education, training, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
The economic and trade partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia stands out as a particularly thriving aspect of their bilateral relations. According to recent statistics, Indonesia’s investment in Vietnam witnessed a significant surge, amounting to over US$1 billion from January to November 2023, marking a 37% increase year-on-year. Notably, Indonesia is Vietnam’s third-largest ASEAN trading partner, while Vietnam ranks fourth among Indonesia’s regional trading partners. The bilateral trade volume reached an impressive approximate total of $13 billion within the same period.
In a strategic move to further enhance their relationship, both leaders agreed to explore elevating the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership to a higher level. They committed to intensifying delegation exchanges and meetings across various levels, ensuring effective implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and honoring high-level agreements and documents. Additionally, they proposed developing a comprehensive action plan for 2024-2028, tailored to the evolving dynamics of their partnership.
This meeting marks a significant milestone in Vietnam-Indonesia relations, signaling a future of increased collaboration and mutual growth, particularly in the dynamic and rapidly expanding Halal sector.
Author
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Hafiz Maqsood Ahmed is the Editor-in-Chief of The Halal Times, with over 30 years of experience in journalism. Specializing in the Islamic economy, his insightful analyses shape discourse in the global Halal economy.
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