The visit took place in the context when the relationship between the two countries is strongly developing, particularly since the implementation of the Declaration between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Indonesia on the Framework of Friendly and Comprehensive Partnership entering the 21^st century. Since then, the two countries regularly exchanges visits of high-ranking delegations and many bilateral cooperative mechanisms have been established and effectively operated. The two countries have signed more than 30 agreements to lay a solid legal foundation for bilateral cooperation in various realms, such as politics, national defence, security, economics, trade, investment, education and agriculture.

Based on that foundation, during their talks after the official welcoming ceremony held at the highest level for a state leader, President Truong Tan Sang and his Indonesian counterpart H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially announced the upgrade of Vietnam-Indonesia relations to a strategic partnership, for the sake of each country's people as well as for peace, stability, co-operation and prosperity in the region and the world. Thus, Indonesia is the 2^nd nation in ASEAN, after Thailand, to become a strategic partner of Vietnam. 

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa welcomes State President Truong Tan Sang and his wife
at Halim Airport in Jakarta. Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

The official welcoming ceremony is held at the President’s Palace at the highest level for a state leader.
Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warmly welcomes State President Truong Tan Sang.
Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

During their talks, the two leaders officially announced to lift Vietnam-Indonesia relations to a strategic partnership.
Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

State President Truong Tan sang and his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono witness the signing
of a state-level agreement on crime extradition between the two countries. Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

State President Truong Tan Sang talks with President of Indonesia's Houses of Representatives Marzuki Alie.
Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

State President Truong Tan Sang attends the Vietnam-Indonesia Business Forum. Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

The two sides were committed to promote cooperation in both depth and width in several important fields, such as politics, economy, trade, investment, education-training and national defence-security. In terms of economics, trade and investment, the two leaders were optimistic that the target of five billion USD in trade volume could be surpassed before 2015 and agreed to set a new target of 10 billion USD in trade volume by 2018.

On defense and security cooperation, the two leaders reached unanimity on starting negotiations to soon sign rules on joint patrols between the two countries' naval forces in contiguous waters and immediately make the patrols a reality, helping maintain peace and security at sea. They saw eye to eye on the possible establishment of appropriate dialogue mechanisms on policies on security and defence, underscoring the importance of strengthening co-operation in the defence industry, fighting terrorism and other non-traditional security threats.

On the East Sea issue, the two leaders reconfirmed the importance of peace, stability, safety, maritime security and freedom at sea, solving disputes by peaceful means, refraining from using or threatening the use of military force, respecting international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalising a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). The two leaders expressed their full support for ASEAN’s Six-point Principles on the East Sea and welcomed the Joint Statement of the 15^th ASEAN-China Summit on the 10^th anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as concrete steps following the issued statement. 

State President Truong Tan Sang visits the ASEAN Secretariat’s headquarters and meets with ambassadors
and heads of the representative delegations of ASEAN countries in Jakarta. Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA
State President Truong Tan Sang and ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh. Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

State President Truong Tan Sang delivers an important speech at the headquarters of ASEAN Secretariat
that highlights Vietnam’s policy on ASEAN. Photo: Nguyen Khang – VNA

On this occasion, State President Truong Tan Sang visited the ASEAN Secretariat’s Headquarters and delivered an important speech that highlighted Vietnam’s great policy on ASEAN in the context of constant fluctuation in the region and ASEAN striving to build an ASEAN community in 2015 as well as orientations for future development in the period after 2015.

His speech expressed the mode of operation called ASEAN Way based on solidarity, consensus, consultation, progression, cohesion and respect of the benefits of regional and national members, the common goal of peace and prosperity, suitable for a region having a wide range of areas of historical factors, culture, language, political system, degree of atrophy developed like Southeast Asia.

Regarding the great issue of the East Sea, State President Truong Tan Sang suggested to settling disputes in line with ASEAN’s Six-point Principles, respect for international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the SEA 1982 and continue to promote the early formation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea ( COC ).

The speech by State President Truong Tan Sang draw special attention from the political circle and the public inside and outside ASEAN and it was considered an evidence for commitments and significant contribution to the development of ASEAN.