The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang in his interview granted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in the country on the threshold of his working visit to Indonesia and attendance at these events from October 11-12.

Quang said that PM Phuc’s attendance at the ALG and the IMF-WB annual meetings’ plenary session is of significance, showing the country’s responsibility for contributing to ASEAN’s dynamic and sustainable development.

The presence and contributions of the high-level Vietnamese delegation led by PM Phuc to these meetings are the follow-up of the country’s efforts to join hands with the international community in boosting sustainable development and green growth, and implementing the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals

Under the theme of “Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Overcoming Development Gap Through Regional and Global Collaborative Actions”, ASEAN leaders will focus their discussions on orientations and measures to intensify cooperation between ASEAN and international organisations such as the United Nations, IMF and WB, to create a momentum for building the ASEAN Community in line with the 2030 Agenda, the diplomat shared.

Regarding the Vietnam-Indonesia relations, Ambassador Quang said that the PM’s working visit to Indonesia will demonstrate Vietnam’s respect for Indonesia’s role and position in the region and the world, and show its wish to coordinate closely with Indonesia and other ASEAN member states in building the Southeast Asian region of peace, stability, solidarity, prosperous development and sustainable growth.

Although the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership was set up five years ago, the two countries have a nearly-70-year bilateral diplomatic relationship with numerous achievements in politics, defence, security, economics, trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Through high-level visits, bilateral cooperative mechanisms and increasing political trust, collaboration in other fields is developing strongly as well.

The two countries are striving for 10 billion USD in two-way trade value as soon as possible and rising the number of Vietnamese tourists to Indonesia and vice versa to 220,000 by 2023 from the 120,000 at present.

In the complicated regional and global situation, it is crucial for Vietnam and Indonesia to intensify cooperation to turn challenges into opportunities so as to build a strong and united ASEAN, thus helping solve disputes peacefully, ensure security and stability in the region, and promote trade liberalisation, Quang stated.

With the political determination of both sides’ leaders, Vietnam and Indonesia are step by step overcoming difficulties, standing with each other to deepen bilateral cooperation, contributing to enhance solidarity and promote the central role of ASEAN in all mechanisms led and formed by the bloc, he added.