The relationship with Vietnam is a priority in Indonesia’s regional policy, Speaker of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (Senate) Irman Gusmand said on January 7.

Ambassador Hoang Anh Tuan (L) and Speaker of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council Irman Gusmand

Meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Hoang Anh Tuan in Jakarta, the Speaker said the two countries are important players in contributing to the peace in Southeast Asia.

Their relations are even more important at present as the ASEAN Community has taken shape and ASEAN is facing traditional and non-traditional security challenges, he noted.

The countries should optimise their fine political connections to boost economic growth, and improve their peoples’ living standards and welfares.

Irman Gusmand voiced his hope for closer cooperation between big localities of Vietnam and Indonesia as well as stronger tourism links to cement people-to-people ties.

For his part, Ambassador Tuan rejoiced at the thriving bilateral relations, especially since their strategic partnership was established in June 2013.

He said he hopes the time-honoured relationship, set up by late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and his Indonesian counterpart Sukarno, will make further progress after the formation of the ASEAN Community.

The diplomat also wanted both nations to enhance cooperation to make the best use of the ASEAN Community’s opportunities and foster bilateral ties.

At the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s invitation to to visit Vietnam was delivered to Irman Gusmand.

The Indonesian speaker accepted the invitation and hoped for the visit to be made this year.

VNA