India, Indonesia agree to give substance to strategic ties

Jakarta, Dec 1 (PTI) India and Indonesia Monday pledged to give substance and content to their growing "strategic partnership" and cooperate in various fields, including the fight against terrorism.

Heralding a new chapter in bilateral ties, Indian
President Pratibha Patil Monday met with her Indonesian
counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and held wide ranging
discussions on ways to provide more content to their
"strategic partnership".

Two Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), one on youth
and sports and another on agriculture and allied services were
signed between the two countries.

Patil, who is here on a two-day visit to Indonesia,
and Yudhoyono also agreed to push the bilateral trade volume
from current USD 6.5 billion to USD 10 billion by 2010.

The Indian President, who cut short her visit here
following Mumbai terror attack, said the recent brutal attacks
in India are the handiwork of those who have no regard for
human lives and whose designs are to disrupt the progress of
the nation.

She said the Mumbai incident has reinforced the
determination of the country to fight resolutely against the
threat of terrorism and pledged international cooperation to
fight the menace terrorism.

Expressing his condolences to the loss of lives in
Mumbai attacks, Indonesian President said: "I believe we must
reinforce international cooperation to fight terrorism of
which Mumbai is one case."

Describing Patil's visit as a "milestone", he said
that the ties between the two countries have "significantly
improved" after the strategic partnership he had signed during
his visit to India in 2005.

Yudhoyono said in Monday's meeting he has agreed to
increase cooperation in the fields of education, youth and
sports, agriculture, film industry and tourism.

Referring to India's close historical ties with
Indonesia, a key member of the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) grouping, Yudhoyono said the relationship
between the two countries were "very important".

Observing that trade relationship between the two
countries were very good and it has grown to USD 6.5 billion
last year, he said both countries have agreed to take the
trade ties to a level of USD 10 billion by 2010.

Yudhoyono invited Indian businessmen to invest in
Indonesia in the fields of manufacturing, transport and
renewable energy.

He also condoled the death of former Indian prime
minister VP Singh, who died last week after a prolonged
illness.

Meanwhile, Patil said the two countries are committed
to give substance and content to the strategic partnership. In
this regard, she said focus would be given to impart higher
political and strategic dimensions to the bilateral ties.

She said a number of companies from both countries are
establishing huge joint ventures covering textiles, steel,
banking, automobiles and the resources sectors.

Earlier, Patil was given a ceremonial reception at the
Presidential palace here.

Patil said India has a long historical and cultural
association with Indonesia.

"Our leaders, President Sukarno and Prime Minister
Nehru cooperated closely during our respective struggles for
independence and laid the foundation of an enduring friendship
between the two countries," she said.

My visit is aimed at emphasising the strong ties
between the two countries who share a maritime boundary and
the largest pluralistic democracies of Asia, she said.

On bilateral relations and cooperation in multilateral
fora, she said: "We are satisfied with the level of
engagement. We seek to further intensify our collaboration.
Our points of view, objectives and approaches are similar on
many issues".

Patil said she has invited the Indonesian President to
India and looks forward to his visit. PTI