Indonesian Foreign Minister M. Natalegawa has praised Vietnam

Da Nang (VNA) – The Indonesian Foreign Minister M. Natalegawa has praised Vietnam
at the start of the year it holds the regions chair, saying that “Vietnam has
started its ASEAN chairmanship very well.

The Indonesian FM told reporters on the sidelines of the regional meetings in Da
Nang on January 13-14 that he believed many of the bloc’s issues will be solved
in 2010 as the first two weeks of the year have passed and Vietnam has already
hosted several meetings.

The bloc will discuss and speed up a series of security-related issues such as the
ASEAN maritime forum and the ASEAN defence ministers’ meeting later this year, he
said.
According to the Indonesian FM, cooperating in security matters amongst ASEAN
countries as one of the three ASEAN Community’s pillars. He said that he hoped
the issues would see practical outcomes in the year Vietnam holds the chair.

Regarding the relationship between Vietnam and Indonesia over the years, he said
that both countries share a close relationship, adding that they have both also had
to struggle for independence and understood the value of it.

He emphasised that both countries should enhance relations in the future and that
the best days for the two countries lie ahead.-Enditem