India, Indonesia released Joint Statement in New Delhi

India and Indonesia on 12 December 2016 released a joint statement in New Delhi. The statement was released after extensive talks between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo.

Joko Widodo is on a two-day visit to India on the invitation of Narendra Modi. This is the first bilateral visit to India by the Indonesian President.

Highlights of the Joint Statement
• Strategic Engagement: Both the leaders agreed to hold annual summit meetings, including on the margins of multilateral events.
• They also welcomed the submission of a Vision Document 2025 by the India-Indonesia Eminent Persons Group (EPG).
• The group had begun their work in early 2016 to suggest ways and means to deepen the strategic engagement up to 2025 and beyond.
• Defence and Security Cooperation: They directed the two Defence Ministers to explore collaboration between defence industries for the joint production of equipment including capacity building cooperation.
• The Leaders highlighted the importance of the maritime domain to their respective countries, the surrounding regions, and the world.
• Comprehensive Economic Partnership: The Indian Prime Minister briefed the visiting President about the business opportunities provided by the initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Smart City, Swachh Bharat and Start-Up India.
• President Widodo welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives in the area of renewable energy, particularly the establishment of the International Solar Alliance.
• They welcomed the signing of the MoU between the Indonesian National Standardization Agency (BSN) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Standardization Cooperation.
• Cultural and People-to-People Links: Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on youth affairs and sports and in this regard welcomed the signing of an MOU on Cooperation in Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Cooperation in Responding to Common Challenges: The two leaders agreed to cooperate on common challenges such as terrorism, the threat to freedom of navigation, an early conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations, UNSC reforms, etc.