INDONESIA, VIETNAM ENHANCE BILATERAL TIES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 24 (Antara) - Indonesia and Vietnam, the two neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, continue to increase bilateral ties in various fields, such as trade, investment, and other economic and social sectors.              "Our relations with Vietnam are not new. We have established friendly relations since the past 60 years. In 2013, we had set up a strategic partnership," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated in connection with the current visit of a Vietnamese top leader.              In order to further intensify bilateral ties, Secretary General of Vietnam's Socialist Party Nguyen Phu Trong is on a three-day visit to Indonesia on Aug 22-24. He was welcomed in a ceremony led by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Jakarta on Wednesday.              Minister Marsudi noted that Trong is visiting Indonesia to increase cooperation, particularly in the business sector. Indonesia views huge business potential between the two countries.              According to Marsudi, Indonesia's trade with Vietnam has shown rapid growth. Cars are one of the biggest imports of the socialist country from Indonesia.              "Our exports of completely built-up (CBU) cars to Vietnam are the biggest. Hence, Vietnam's biggest car imports came from Indonesia," Marsudi said after accompanying President Jokowi to receive Trong at the Merdeka Palace.