Indonesia and Australia strengthen defence collaboration and expand market access for both countries
JAKARTA (Vietnam News/ANN): Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of defence and expand market access for Indonesia's micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking at a joint press conference in Jakarta, President Prabowo emphasised that Australia is not only a neighbouring country but also a strategic partner of Indonesia. As such, several agreements signed across various sectors will continue to be implemented.
In the field of defence, Indonesia is committed to finalising the ratification process of the defence cooperation agreement that was agreed upon last year, and continuing discussions on ways to improve and enhance collaboration in this area, he said.
On the economic front, the President encouraged stronger cooperation in trade and investment, and called for Australia's participation in strengthening Indonesia's agriculture and fisheries sectors, and MSMEs.
He expressed his hope that Indonesia's fruits and aquatic products will increasingly meet international market standards, including those of Australia.
Inviting Australia to engage more deeply in economic cooperation amid current global uncertainties, the Indonesian leader stressed that in today's volatile global economic environment, the relationship between Indonesia and Australia is becoming increasingly important and will bring greater benefits to both countries and their peoples.
The two leaders also discussed opportunities for cooperation in food security, energy transition, critical minerals, and the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem.
Notably, President Prabowo emphasised that his government will pursue the implementation of bilateral commitments, including the finalisation of the 2025–2029 Action Plan of the Indonesia – Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement. This plan aligns with Indonesia's transformational vision 'Asta Cita' and Australia's South-East Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. - Vietnam News/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
23 minutes ago
- The Star
Philippine Airlines launches direct Manila–Da Nang route
DA NANG (Vietnam News/ANN): Philippine Airlines on July 1 officially inaugurated its direct flight route connecting Manila and Da Nang, with its first flight carrying 193 passengers landing at Da Nang International Airport at 12:45 pm. The new service operates three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, using Airbus A321 aircraft with 199 seats, including 12 in business class. The frequency is expected to increase to four flights per week from this November. A welcome ceremony was held at the international arrival terminal, featuring a water cannon salute, traditional music performances, ribbon-cutting, and souvenir gifts for arriving passengers. At the departure terminal, a send-off event with gifts was organised for passengers flying from Da Nang to Manila on Flight PR586. Speaking at the event, Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the launch coincided with the city's newly expanded tourism space and services. The new route brings the total number of weekly Manila–Da Nang flights to 12, helping boost tourism and connectivity between the two cities. Richard Nuttall, President of Philippine Airlines, expressed his delight at the launch and highlighted the route's potential to offer seamless travel for passengers from central Vietnam to Manila and onward to the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan. In 2024, over 65,000 Philippine tourists visited Da Nang. In the first five months of 2025 alone, the central city welcomed more than 49,000 Philippine visitors, up 2.26 times year-on-year. Philippine Airlines operates scheduled direct flights from hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao to 31 domestic and 38 international destinations across Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East. The carrier now runs 24 direct weekly flights from Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi to the Philippines. - Vietnam News/ANN
The Star
23 minutes ago
- The Star
Foreign visitors to Vietnam near 10.7 million in H1, half of full-year target
Asia remained the largest market, accounting for over 8.41 million visitors (over 78%), marking a 21.1% increase year-on-year. Arrivals from Europe rose 26.5% to 1.34 million, while visitors from the Americas grew 8.6% to 582,800. - Photo: Vietnam News/ANN HANOI (Vietnam News/ANN): Vietnam welcomed nearly 10.7 million international arrivals in the first half of 2025, marking an increase of nearly 21% compared to the same period last year, and up 26% compared to 2019 – the 'golden era' of Vietnamese tourism before the Covid-19 pandemic struck. According to newly released data from the National Statistics Office, in June alone, Vietnam received nearly 1.5 million foreign visitors, down 4% from the previous month. The H1 figure stood at 49% of the full-year target of 22-23 million tourists, but it should be noted that the peak international tourism season in Vietnam lasts from October to March. Air travel remained dominant, with over 9 million arrivals by air (accounting for over 85% of the total number, and up by 22.7% year-on-year, followed by nearly 1.4 million by land, and the remainder arriving by sea. Asia remained the largest market, accounting for over 8.41 million visitors (over 78%), marking a 21.1% increase year-on-year. Arrivals from Europe rose 26.5% to 1.34 million, while visitors from the Americas grew 8.6% to 582,800. Tourist numbers from Oceania reached 304,200, up 14.1%, whereas arrivals from Africa edged down 0.3% to 25,200. Tourists from Northeast Asia account for 60% of total international visitors to Vietnam in the first half. Chinese tourists continue to top the list with over 2.7 million arrivals, followed by those from the Republic of Korea with 2.2 million. Next in line are visitors from Japan, Taiwan (China), the United States, and India. In the opposite direction, more than 4 million Vietnamese travelled abroad in the past six months – a rise of nearly 54% compared to the same period last year. 'Transport and tourism activities have surged to meet consumer demand both regionally and globally, making a positive contribution to economic growth. The value added by the service sector in the first half of the year rose by over 8% year-on-year – the highest rate for the same period since 2011,' the statistics office noted. According to a report by leading consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Vietnam ranks among the world's top emerging tourism markets, alongside China, India, and Saudi Arabia. These markets are quickly overtaking traditional tourism powerhouses such as the US, the UK, and Germany. The May edition of the World Tourism Barometer published by the US Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) revealed that in the first quarter of this year, Vietnam recorded the sixth-highest growth in international arrivals worldwide – up 30% from the same period in 2024. Within the Asia–Pacific region, Vietnam ranked first, followed by Japan and the Republic of Palau. Bloomberg reported that Vietnam has emerged as the third most-visited country in Southeast Asia, with 17.5 million international visitors last year – surpassing Singapore and trailing only Malaysia (25 million visitors) and Thailand (35 million visitors). Experts believe the growing number of direct flights from other countries to Vietnam is one of the key factors fuelling the country's tourism. - Vietnam News/ANN
The Star
23 minutes ago
- The Star
Paetongtarn, Thaksin, and Srettha to present Thai soft power visions at 2025 forum
Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, along with former premiers Thaksin Shinawatra and Srettha Thavisin, will present their visions on the future of Thai soft power at a major forum in Bangkok next week, government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub announced on Sunday. Forum highlights soft power as key driver of Thai identity - The Splash – Soft Power Forum 2025 will take place from July 8 to 11, between 10am and 8pm, at Halls 1–4 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. The event is co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, the National Soft Power Committee and its subcommittees, with support from the private sector, local communities, and global networks. The forum will feature a Visionary Stage, where leading experts from 14 soft power industries will share ideas aimed at inspiring new generations. Meanwhile, Paetongtarn will be speaking on Thailand's soft power, tourism and education goals Paetongtarn, who also serves as Culture Minister, will also deliver a keynote address titled 'Thailand Rising: Tourism, Education and the New Soft Power Frontier' on July 8, from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. On July 9, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm, her father Thaksin Shinawatra will speak on 'Crafting the Future: From OTOP to ThaiWORKS and Beyond'. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
