Remarks by External Affairs Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the Joint Press Conference with Foreign Minister of Indonesia Mr. N. Hassan Wirajuda

18/06/2007

Jakarta, June 18, 2007

The Foreign Minister of Indonesia H.E. Mr. N. Hassan Wirajuda and I had very good discussions and reviewed the progress that we have made in our bilateral relations since the establishment of the New Strategic Partnership between India and Indonesia during the visit of the President of Indonesia H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to India in November, 2005.

I expressed our deep appreciation for the very warm welcome that I and members of my delegation have received since our arrival in Jakarta.

We believe that the Joint Commission has produced a very considered and focused document which will serve as a reference point for expanding our bilateral relations in the future. The deliberations of the Joint Commission Meeting and the constructive and friendly atmosphere in which they were conducted give us great confidence in the further development of our bilateral relations.

It is a matter of satisfaction that we have also finalized a 'Plan of Action for the Implementation of the New Strategic Partnership' between India and Indonesia. We are confident that this document will provide the blue print for the realization of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Relations between India and Indonesia are endowed with unique characteristics. Perhaps, there is no other country with which India shares so much in common in terms of geography, size, diversity, historical and civilization ties as Indonesia. Indonesia is a key strategic partner of India in the ASEAN and in the context of our 'Look East' policy. We would like our relations to move forward and evolve into a strong partnership taking advantage of the synergies that exist between the two countries.

New Delhi
June 18, 2007