Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phu Binh stressed that over the past 50 years, the traditional friendly relations between Vietnam and Indonesia fostered by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Soekarno, have rapidly developed in political, economic, commercial, investment areas and have also expanded to health care, education and cultural and tourism cooperation. The two countries have also coordinated in regional and international organisations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum (APEC), Mr Binh said, adding that Vietnam always attaches importance to further promoting friendship and mutually-beneficial co-operation with Indonesia.

The two countries' implementation of their Joint Declaration on the Framework of Friendship and Comprehensive Co-operation in the 21st century, and the Vietnam visit by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in May 2005 have created favourable conditions for the two sides to further promote multifaceted co-operation, the Vietnamese diplomat further said.

Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Artauli Ratna MP Tobing said he believes that the bilateral relations will be further developed for the prosperity of the two countries.