India-Indonesia joint statement

The President of Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo paid a State visit to India from 11 to 13 December 2016 at the invitation of Prime Minister of Republic of India  Narendra Modi. This is the first bilateral visit to India by President Joko Widodo.

President Joko Widodo held a meeting with President of the Republic of India, H.E. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, followed by State Banquet at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 12 December 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joko Widodo held extensive talks on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari, who had visited Indonesia in November 2015, called on the President of Indonesia.

Prime Minister Modi and President Widodo noted that India and Indonesia are friendly maritime neighbours with deep civilizational links between the people of the two countries, including the common heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. They underscored the importance of pluralism, democracy, and rule of law as key values to achieve peaceful co-existence. They welcomed the convergence in the political, economic and strategic interests of the two countries that provides an enduring basis for a long-term strategic partnership.

The Leaders noted that the relationship had acquired a new momentum following the establishment of a Strategic Partnership in November 2005. It received a further boost with the adoption of a Joint Statement for defining the 'Vision for the India-Indonesia New Strategic Partnership over the coming decade' during the visit of the President of Indonesia to India in January 2011 and adoption of a 5-pronged initiative for strengthening the Strategic Partnership in October 2013 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India. The two Leaders recalled their first meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on 13 November 2014 on the sidelines of ASEAN Summit during which they discussed concrete areas of cooperation between India and Indonesia.

Strategic Engagement

The President of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of India agreed to hold annual Summit meetings, including on the margins of multilateral events. They stressed the importance of continuing regular bilateral consultations through the robust architecture of dialogue in place, including the Ministerial and Working Group Mechanisms.

The leaders welcomed the progress made under sectoral Joint Working Groups on Coal, Agriculture, Counter-Terrorism, Health, and Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics, Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and its Precursors since last meeting between the two leaders in November 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw. The leaders urged implementation of the agreed outcomes of the meetings.

The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of parliamentary exchanges between the two democracies and expressed satisfaction at the regular visits of delegations between the two Parliaments. In this regard, they appreciated the Goodwill Visit by Parliamentary Delegation from India to Indonesia in April 2016 and visits by members from the House of People's Representatives and the Council of Representatives of Regions of the Republic of Indonesia to India in October and December 2015.

The two Leaders welcomed the submission of a Vision Document 2025 by the India-Indonesia Eminent Persons Group (EPG) that had begun their work earlier in the year. The Document sets out recommendations on the future trajectory of the bilateral relationship up to 2025 and beyond.

The Leaders welcomed the successful launch of the satellites LAPAN A2 in September 2015 and LAPAN A3 in June 2016 by ISRO. They directed LAPAN and ISRO to convene the fourth Joint Committee meeting on Outer Space at an early date to expedite the conclusion of the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, and other related agreements having applications in hydrography, weather forecasting, disaster management, crop forecasting and resource mapping; and training programmes.

Defence and Security Cooperation

As strategic partners and maritime neighbours, the two leaders emphasised the importance of further consolidating the security and defence cooperation between the two countries. In this regard they directed the Ministers for early convening of the Defence Ministers’ Dialogue and the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) Meetings to review and upgrade the existing "Agreement on Cooperative Activities in the Fields of Defence” to a substantive bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement.

The Leaders noted the successful completion of Staff Talks between the Armies (August 2016) and the Navies (June 2015) of the two countries that have resulted in enhancement of defence cooperation between the two armed forces and agreed that Air Force Staff Talks would be held at an early date. Both sides agreed to increase the frequency of defence exchanges, training and joint exercises, including among Special Forces. They also tasked the two Defence Ministers to explore collaboration between defence industries for joint production of equipment with technology transfer, technical assistance, and capacity building cooperation.
Both leaders discussed the threat from global terrorism and other transnational crimes and resolved to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism, terrorist financing, money laundering, arms smuggling, trafficking in human beings and cyber crime. They commended the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, which has met regularly and took note of the outcome of the last meeting held in October 2015 which discussed issues of mutual interest, including cyber security. They also welcomed the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics, Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and its Precursors held in August 2016. Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in these areas.

The Leaders welcomed the successful holding of the "Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2016” in New Delhi, and recognizing the potential for cooperation in this area, directed their respective sides to revitalize the cooperation in disaster management in order to institutionalize regular joint exercises and training cooperation thus augmenting capacities to respond to natural disasters.

The Leaders highlighted the importance of the maritime domain to their respective countries, the surrounding regions, and the world. They pledged to deepen their maritime cooperation, and to this end, issued a separate "Statement on Maritime Cooperation,” during the visit. The Statement encompasses a broad range of fields, including: maritime security, maritime industry, maritime safety and navigation, and other areas of bilateral cooperation identified by both countries.
The Leaders also affirmed the urgent need to combat, prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and welcomed the signing of a Joint Communiqué on IUU Fishing and to Promote Sustainable Fisheries Governance between Indonesia and India. Both Leaders recognized transnational organized fisheries crime as one of the emerging crimes, which has become an ever-growing threat to the world.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership

The Leaders expressed satisfaction at the growth in trade and investment ties between India and Indonesia and recognized the importance of a predictable, open and transparent economic policy framework to facilitate greater two-way trade and investment and to promote private sector led economic growth.
The Leaders desired the early convening of the meeting of Biennial Trade Ministers’ Forum (BTMF). The Forum will enable necessary dialogue on economic policies with an aim to remove impediments to trade and investment.

Prime Minister Modi briefed President Widodo about his government’s efforts to transform India through innovative initiatives such as "Make in India”, "Digital India”, "Skill India”, "Smart City”, "Swachh Bharat” and "Start-Up India” and invited Indonesian business to avail of the opportunities presented. President Widodo briefed Prime Minister Modi on Indonesia’s recent reforms and steps taken to enhance the ease of doing business in Indonesia and invited Indian companies to invest in pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, IT, energy and in manufacturing industries.

Both Leaders welcomed the meeting of prominent business leaders at the Indonesia- India CEOs' Forum held in New Delhi on 12 December 2016, and encouraged that the CEOs' Forum to be held as a regular annual forum to provide constructive suggestions to further enhance bilateral trade and investment cooperation. At the meeting with selected CEOs from Indonesia and India on 13 December 2016, the report from Co-Chairs of the CEOs' Forum held on 12 December 2016 was delivered to Presiden Joko Widodo.

The Leaders recognized that access to reliable, clean and affordable energy is critical for economic growth of both the countries, and in this regard they welcomed the signing of the MoU on New and Renewable Energy in November 2015, and encouraged implementation of the MoU by establishment of the Joint Working Group on New and Renewable Energy, and early convening of the first meeting of the Joint Working Group to pursue concrete bilateral Plan of Action.
President Widodo welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives in the area of renewable energy, particularly the establishment of the International Solar Alliance.

The leaders also noted the outcome of the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Coal held in November 2015. Both Leaders agreed to cooperate in promotion of energy efficiency technologies, new and renewable energy technologies, with the shared aspiration to ensure energy security as well as meet respective climate change targets.

In order to meet energy mix demand in the future, both Leaders encouraged renewal of the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Oil and Gas and the working of its Joint Working Group, to expand wider scope of cooperation at the earliest convenience.

The Leaders looked forward to the renewal of MoU on Health Cooperation that would pave the way for closer collaboration in tackling common health challenges. They also encouraged both sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector.

The Leaders highlighted the importance of food security for the peoples of both countries and agreed to work together towards concrete actions in this area. Prime Minister Modi expressed India’s readiness to supply rice, sugar and soya bean to meet Indonesia’s requirements.

Recognizing the opportunities and challenges presented by information and communications technology, both Leaders affirmed their commitment to develop cooperation in areas of information and communication technology to support innovation and the digital economy.

Noting the importance of connectivity for enhancement of trade, tourism and people-to-people contacts, the Leaders welcomed the establishment of flights by Garuda Indonesia between Jakarta & Mumbai starting from December 2016. They also encouraged direct flights from India to Indonesia by the airlines of India. The two countries encouragedpromotion of direct shipping links, private sector investment in port and air-port development projects, including through Public-Private Partnerships or other concession schemes.

The Leaders also stressed that bilateral cooperation on standards is important to facilitate trade between the two countries. In this regard, 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

The Leaders committed to build upon the close historical and cultural links between the two peoples through promotion of art, literature, music, dance, and archaelogy under the Cultural Exchange Programme 2015-2018. Recognizing the popularity and impact of films on the youth and in tourism promotion, the two sides agreed to finalize an agreement for cooperation in the film industry.

The Leaders underscored the importance of investment in education and human resource development to empower young generations in India and Indonesia. Both sides noted the ongoing cooperation between educational institutions on the institutionalization of university-to-university linkages to facilitate faculty exchange, teachers’ training and double-degree programmes. The Leaders emphasized the importance of early conclusion of an agreement on cooperation in higher education sector and directed the officials to take necessary steps in this regard.

The Leaders welcomed the establishment of Chairs for Indian Studies in various Indonesian Universities and agreed to explore setting up of similar Chairs of Indonesian Studies in Indian Universities.

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 condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in the strongest terms, emphasizing "zero tolerance” for acts of terror. They noted with great concern the growing menace of terrorism and violent extremism and its universal reach. They called upon all countries to implement the UNSC Resolution 1267 and other relevant resolutions designating terrorist entities. They also called upon all countries to work towards eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, in disrupting terrorist networks and financing channels, and stopping cross-border terrorism. They underlined the need for all countries to deal with trans-national terrorism emanating from their territory by effective criminal justice response. In that regard, the two Leaders called for enhanced cooperation including through greater exchange of information and intelligence between the two sides.

The two Leaders reiterated their commitment to respecting freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded lawful commerce, based on the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In this context, they urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means without resorting to threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities, and avoid unilateral actions that raise tensions. As the leaders of the State Parties to the UNCLOS, they emphasized that all parties should show utmost respect to the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans. Regarding the South China Sea, the two sides stressed the importance of resolving disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law including the UNCLOS.

Both sides reiterated the importance of advancing negotiations for swift conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations.
Both Leaders reiterated support for the ongoing reform of the United Nations and its principal organs, including the Security Council, with a view to making the United Nations more democratic, transparent and efficient so that it can deal more effectively with the myriad challenges of today's world. They stressed the importance of an early restructuring of the UN Security Council to make its decision making processes more democratic, transparent and responsive to the realities of the world today. They stressed that such a restructuring of the Council entailed that the developing world be adequately represented through permanent members on the Council. They agreed to remain closely engaged on various issues related to the reform of the United Nations.

Realizing that the international community faced common challenges of increasing the momentum of global economic recovery and climate change, both sides agreed that as key members of the international community, India and Indonesia must work together effectively in multilateral fora.

Both Leaders expressed satisfaction at the steady progress made in ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations over the past twenty-four years and welcomed the plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations and Fifth Anniversary of the Strategic Partnership 2017 through conduct of commemorative activities in India and in ASEAN member states throughout 2017, including a Commemorative Summit in India, Ministerial Meetings, Business Conclaves, Cultural Festivals and other activities to take the ASEAN- India partnership to our peoples. Both sides agreed to continue close coordination in the ASEAN-related mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

The Leaders noted that India and Indonesia, as two large countries straddling the Indian Ocean, have a high stake in ensuring the effectiveness of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and in promoting regional cooperation in the areas identified by the Organization, and in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). Prime Minister Modi congratulated President Widodo on Indonesia's able leadership as Chair of the IORA and the convening of the First IORA Summit next year.

The two Leaders agreed to follow up on the discussions that they have had, and to carry forward the bilateral relations with meetings of the following mechanisms within the first half of 2017:

i). The Ministerial level Joint Commission

ii). The Defence Ministers’ Dialogue and the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC)

iii). Biennial Trade Ministers’ Forum (BTMF)

iv). Convening of the meeting of the Energy Forum to develop a road map for energy cooperation

v). Establishment of a security dialogue in order to develop a comprehensive action plan on security cooperation.

President Widodo invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Indonesia at an early date, which the Indian Prime Minister readily accepted.