PRESIDENT HOPES FOR RI-VIETNAM STRATEGIC PARLIAMENTARY TIES

Jakarta, March 1 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed hope that Indonesia-Vietnam parliamentary relations could be upgraded to strategic partnership level.

"The president has expressed hope that Indonesia-Vietnam inter-parliamentary relations can be improved as part of a strategic partnership between the two countries," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said at the presidential office here on Monday.

He made the remark after accompanying President Yudhoyono at a meeting with the leader of Vietnam's Parliament, Nguyen Phu Trong on Monday.

The delegation of the Vietnamese Parliament with some 70 businessmen from the country is visiting Indonesia this week to have a business meeting with Indonesian business groups.

Patti Djalal said President Yudhoyono welcomed the forging of more solid relations between Indonesia and Vietnam following the signing of a strategic partnership declaration between Indonesia and Vietnam in 2003.

"The head of state expressed hope that the plan of action to improve strategic relations between the two countries would immediately be completed," Patti Djalal said.

In relation with economic cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam, Patti Djalal said the president hoped it would continue to to be stepped up because the trade value of US$2.2 billion in 2008 was far below the expected potential.

Therefore, the cooperation between the two countries in the future would be focused on energy, food, tourism, maritime, trade, and investment sectors.

At the 45-minute meeting with the Vietnamese parliament, President Yudhoyono expressed support for Vietnam's leadership in ASEAN this year and the country's readiness to host the next ASEAN summit.

"The president stressed the importance of Indonesia-ASEAN cooperation in the implementation of the ASEAN Charter which was ratified by ASEAN countries, and to maintain the so-called ASEAN Way to put Southeast Asian regional cooperation on a strong footing," Patti Djalal said.

At the meeting with President Yudhoyono, the leader of Vietnam's Parliament was accompanied by Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia, Nguyen Quoc Trieu, and a number of Parliament members, namely Guyen Van Son, K'sor Phuoc, Phung Quog Hien, Tran Dinh Dan, Nguyen Van Thuan, Vo MInh Chien, Ngo Duc Manh, and Bhikku Thich Chon Thien, while President Yudhoyono was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto.