Vietnam and Indonesia Seek to Enhance Relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Vietnam and Indonesia have agreed to enhance their bilateral cooperation across various sectors, aiming to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This consensus was reached during a meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta. Prime Minister Chinh’s visit coincided with his attendance at the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, upon President Widodo’s invitation.

The timing of Prime Minister Chinh’s trip is significant, as Vietnam and Indonesia are set to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2023. Additionally, they look forward to commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations, as well as Vietnam’s National Day and Indonesia’s Independence Day in 2025.

Both leaders praised the positive developments in the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership since their previous meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, in May 2023. Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Indonesia were established in 1955, and their strategic partnership was formed in 2013.

Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia ranks as Vietnam’s third-largest trade partner, while Vietnam holds the position of Indonesia’s fourth-largest trade partner, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $14.1 billion last year, nearly triple the amount recorded in 2013, which stood at $4.8 billion.