At the talks, President Tran Duc Luong spoke highly of the significance of the Indonesian President's visit to Viet Nam, saying that the visit does not only usher in a new stage in the two countries' traditional friendly ties, but is also an important activity to mark the 50th anniversary of the two countries' official relations. The two countries established their Consulates General in each other's capitals on December 30, 1955.

President Luong congratulated the Indonesian Government and people on their achievements under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in overcoming the consequences of the recent earthquakes and tsunami, as well as in their economic restoration and national development. He expressed Viet Nam's support for the Indonesian Government and people's efforts to ensure political stability, and maintain territorial integrity and national unity.

President Luong extended his sympathy with Indonesia over the two bomb attacks in Tentena town on Sulawesi island.

President Luong and President Yudhoyono expressed their satisfaction at the fine development of the two countries' relations in the 50 years since the two countries established consulates general in each other's capitals. They stressed that the two countries' traditional friendly relations, which were fostered by the late President Ho Chi Minh and the late President Sukarno, have been continously strengthened and developed.

The two leaders reiterated their determination to further develop the fine traditional ties, establish a strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Indonesia for the benefit of the two peoples and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in the spirit of the two countries' Joint Declaration on the framework of friendly and comprehensive cooperation in the 21st century, signed in June 2003. The two sides agreed to promote the exchange of delegations and contacts at high levels, particularly high-level consultancy on important matters in the bilateral and regional relations.

The two leaders also discussed and agreed on orientations and measures to further boost the two countries' cooperation in politics, security and national defence, economy, commerce, investment, energy, education, science and technology, culture and sports, and tourism.

The two leaders agreed to assign the foreign ministries to work together to build a plan of action for the implementation of the "Declaration on a comprehensive and friendly cooperation framework in the 21st century".

The two heads of state also agreed to bolster the ties between people and businessmen of the two countries with the aim of further promoting their mutual understanding as well as bilateral cooperation.

On regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two leaders emphasised the key role played by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the framework of Southeast Asian and Asian-Pacific cooperation.

They both affirmed that Viet Nam and Indonesia would coordinate closely to strengthen solidarity within the ASEAN and raise the group's prestige in the region, especially during the upcoming 38th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM 38), the 11th ASEAN Summit, and the Summit between ASEAN and its dialogue partners.

They reiterated the two countries' resolve to work with other ASEAN member countries in building an ASEAN community based on the three major pillars, namely politics, economy and culture, upon which an ASEAN Security Community will be formed.

The Vietnamese and Indonesian leaders were of the same view on the need to enhance bilateral coordination in preparing for the East Asia Summit to ensure that the event will be successful and be in line with ASEAN's interests and desired role in this new cooperative mechanism.

President Luong praised and expressed his sincere thanks to the Indonesian Government for its continuously strong support for Viet Nam's bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO). He lauded Indonesia for cooperating with Viet Nam in the preparations for the 2006 Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and for backing Viet Nam's candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term.

President Yudhoyono took this occasion to thank Viet Nam for its support for Indonesia's candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in the 2007-08 term.

The two heads of state discussed the reform of the United Nations and shared a view that the UN needs to work in a fairer and more democratic manner to benefit its member countries'.

The two leaders said they believed that the success of President Yudhoyono's visit will contribute greatly to lifting the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Indonesia to a new height in the interest of the two people and to meet their aspirations. They said this will positively contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, development and prosperity in Southeast Asia.

At the end of the talks, Indonesian President Yudhoyono invited President Tran Duc Luong to visit Indonesia and the Vietnamese leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The talks took place in an atmosphere of friendship, fraternity and mutual trust.

* Viet Nam, Indonesia sign cooperation deals: Viet Nam and Indonesia on May 30 signed the Viet Nam-Indonesia Joint Statement and Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in criminal prevention and fighting, and education.

* Party leader affirms Viet Nam's policy of strengthening ties with Indonesia: General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee affirmed the country's policy of strengthening its traditionally friendly and cooperative relations with Indonesia in the interest of both peoples and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Party leader Nong Duc Manh said so while receiving on May 30 Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono now on an official visit to Viet Nam.

Manh warmly welcomed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife and congratulated the Indonesian State and people on their great achievements. He also expressed his sympathy with Indonesia over the consequences caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami and said he hoped that the Indonesian people would gain greater achievements in national construction and development.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono highly praised Viet Nam's development and said he wished to strengthen the relations between Indonesia and Viet Nam.

President Susilo thanked Viet Nam for its sympathy with and assistance to Indonesia while it was facing a natural calamity. He noted with joy the fine development of the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries and said he believed that these traditional ties would be further consolidated and developed.

Vietnamese, Indonesian businessmen seek opportunities for cooperation: Nearly 200 Vietnamese and Indonesian businesses took part in the Indonesia-Viet Nam Business Forum held in Ha Noi on May 30, which coincided with the current official visit to Viet Nam by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"How can we revitalise Indonesia-Viet Nam economic ties?" President Yudhoyono asked while addressing the forum.

According to the President, the two countries have the great potential to expand tourism. Besides, Indonesia can play a role in Viet Nam's infrastructure and oil and gas development and provide  agricultural equipment to support agricultural development.

Indonesian businessmen have set up an Indonesian Business Association (IBA) in Viet Nam and the IBA together with the two countries' Chambers of Commerce and Industry can contribute to enhancing bilateral trade and investment, he affirmed.

Additionally, there are also areas of cooperation that both sides can explore, he said. "Indonesia and Viet Nam account for 60 percent of robusta coffee production, we can cooperate together to improve the quality of our coffee and explore other ways to cooperate."

The President also said that at the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Tran Duc Luong, in the morning, the two sides agreed to boost cooperation in many fields such as diplomacy, socio-cultural affairs, defence and security and especially in economic areas such as investment, trade, tourism, oil and gas and agriculture.

At the forum, Yudhoyono affirmed Indonesia's full support for Viet Nam's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). According to him, this was an important component of Viet Nam's "doi moi" programme.

Addressing both countries' businessmen, Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)  stressed that the presence of leading Indonesian businesses in the delegation showed the Indonesian government's desire, and also the President's, to boost economic and commercial cooperation with Viet Nam.

He stressed that the investment and business environment in Viet Nam has improved positively and the legal environment for business has become more and more transparent and equal. The National Assembly of Viet Nam will pass the investment law and the common enterprise law for all economic sectors without discrimination against local or foreign investors.

At the forum, the VCCI and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) signed a memorandum of understanding on the two sides' cooperation. Additionally seven other memoranda of understanding on cooperation between businesses on products such as beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products and rattan furniture as well as tourism were signed.

Viet Nam-Indonesia economic and commercial cooperation has been unceasingly developed in recent years. In 2004, two-way trade turnover reached about 1 billion USD, of which Indonesia's exports to Viet Nam contributed 601 million USD.

According the VCCI, Indonesia has to date invested in 18 projects worth 315.3 million USD in Viet Nam, including 8 valid projects with a combined registered capital of 108.9 million USD, ranking 25th among the total 62 foreign investors in Viet Nam.

* Leaders want higher cooperation between Viet Nam and Indonesia: Viet Nam and Indonesia should increase their cooperation in a wide range of areas, including economy, trade, tourism, culture, education, security and defence.

The view was shared by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during their meeting in Ha Noi on May 30.

Viet Nam and Indonesia have had fine traditional ties, however, relevant joint committees should seek new measures to further boost the two countries' cooperation, Prime Minister Khai said.

The Vietnamese and Indonesian leaders noted that the two countries need to join hands to increase ASEAN's role in the region and the international arena.

They agreed that the two countries will increase exchanges of information and cooperation in the fight against terrorism, trans-national crime, and piracy.

The Indonesian President reaffirmed Indonesia's support for Viet Nam's endeavours to become a WTO member and win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in the 2008-09 term.

* Indonesia wishes to learn from Viet Nam's experiences, says President Susilo: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called upon the Indonesian people community in Viet Nam to learn from the experiences, particularly the spirit and determination of the Vietnamese people in making the country a strong and high-economic growth one.

Yudhoyono made the remark while meeting the Indonesian community in Ha Noi on May 30. Viet Nam has reached an annual economic growth rate of 7.6 percent, the second highest in Asia and the Pacific, he said.

Viet Nam and Indonesia have close historical relations and the two countries have been promoting a friendship and comprehensive partnership in the areas of economics, politics and culture between the two governments and peoples. Around 300 Indonesian people currently live in Viet Nam, including 100 in Ha Noi, he added.

Two-way trade has strongly increased in recent years, from 700 million USD in 2000 to more than 1.1 billion USD in 2004. Since 1990, Indonesia has had 18 investment projects capitalised at over 315 million USD in Viet Nam.

* Indonesian President wraps up Viet Nam visit: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his entourage left Ha Noi on May 30, concluding a two-day official visit to Viet Nam.

Earlier the same day, President Luong hosted a banquet in honour of President Yudhoyono and other distinguished Indonesian guests.

In his speech, President Luong said that over the past 50 years, the fine traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries, which were fostered by the late President Ho Chi Minh and the late President Sukarno, have been unceasingly promoted and developed. The two peoples have closely supported and assisted each other in their struggles for national defence, and national construction and development, and become close friends and brothers.

President Luong said: "Viet Nam and Indonesia are bound by time-honoured relations. The two countries share not only a common sea, but also the same destiny of close neighbouring countries and members of the ASEAN family". With the largest area and population in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has made important contributions to peace and stability in the region over many decades, he said, adding that Viet Nam has always considered Indonesia a mainstay of the ASEAN. He said he believed that under the leadership of President Susilo, the Indonesian people would contribute more to the peace, stability and prosperous development of their country, as well as to Southeast Asia and the ASEAN.

Viet Nam will continue to firmly support Indonesia's efforts and closely cooperate with Indonesia to realise the noble goals of the ASEAN in the interest of the region and each member country, President Luong said.

In his reply, Indonesian President Yudhoyono said, "Over the years, our two countries have enjoyed very good relations, especially in the political and diplomatic realms. But I believe much more awaits us in the future. The great challenge for our present and future generations is to intensify the already close relations that existed between the previous generations of Indonesian and Vietnamese leaders. And we do this not because of nostalgia, but because we believe that the best way for an independent-minded country to promote its interests is to link-up with another independent-minded country. We add to each other's strength. We give confidence to each other. And we help each other to advance our mutual interests. The relationship between Indonesia and Viet Nam, therefore, is one of strategic complements."

Before departing Viet Nam, President Susilo chaired a press briefing on the outcome of his visit for Vietnamese and foreign journalists./.