International - India & World   

Indonesia for more cooperation with India

P. S. Suryanarayana

Two countries agree upon a “plan of action” to translate their partnership” into a reality

— Photo: AFP

Furthering ties: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

SINGAPORE: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday called for the “intensification of cooperation” with India in the defence domain, as the two countries agreed upon a “plan of action” to translate their new strategic partnership” into a reality.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda, who co-chaired a Joint Commission meeting in Jakarta, endorsed a “clear and measurable” action plan. Mr. Mukherjee later described it as “a blueprint for … taking advantage of the synergies that exist between the two countries.”

The meeting identified several “new fields of bilateral cooperation,” ranging from special economic zones and alternative energy sources to legal assistance and extradition treaties. “Diversification of the trade basket,” with a two-way target of $10-billion volume by 2010, was also agreed upon. Also discussed were the steps to strengthen cooperation in other sectors such as nuclear know-how, biotechnology, space-related applications, tele-education and tele-health.

A top presidential aide Dino Patti Djalal told The Hindu over telephone from Jakarta that Mr. Susilo, who received Mr. Mukherjee after the meeting, reiterated a firm commitment to the strategic partnership and “stressed the n eed to intensify cooperation in the sectors of defence, trade, and investment.”

The President called for “an information technology (IT) partnership” and emphasised the scope for bilateral cooperation over energy issues.

Mr. Susilo was keen to encourage the flow of investments into Indonesia from major Indian firms in the private sector.

On defence, Mr. Dino said the President suggested joint exercises, training, and the exchange of officers. Mr. Susilo, a former military leader, was “impressed” with India’s defence know-how and other capabilities.

About security along the busy trade route of Malacca Straits, Mr. Mukherjee told the Press that “there is a growing presence of terrorists and non-state actors, requiring attention of the littoral states [such as Indonesia] and the international community. We always keep in view the sensitivities of the littoral states; [and] whatever role they expect us to play, we will be glad to do so.”

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna pointed out that the meeting covered “a wide-ranging review of bilateral relations between Asia’s two largest pluralistic democracies.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

China may lift ban on domestic tiger trade
U.S. against military role in politics: envoy
Rushdie: Pakistan summons British envoy
Night flights from Colombo to resume
Truck blast kills more than 75 in Baghdad
Google Earth on a mission
America’s biggest mob trial since Al Capone starts
U.S. rallies behind Abbas
Indonesia for more cooperation with India
Singapore, India set up joint panel

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu