Indonesia President urges new Indonesia-Vietnam flight route

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has expressed keenness on a new flight route being opened between his country and Vietnam as well as the earlier-opened route being revitalized.

"Direct flight routes between the business and tourism centers of the two countries must be revitalized. Airlines from the two countries are expected to finalize plans for new flight routes from Danang to Denpasar and from Ho Chi Minh City to Jakarta as well as the addition of the Jakarta-Ho Chi Minh City flight route," he was quoted by Indonesia News Agency (Antara) as stating at Bogor Presidential Palace on Thursday.

Widodo made the statement at a press conference in Jakarta with his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. He meant an increase in the frequency of flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta.

"We must immediately restore the flow of goods and tourist traffic to the pre-pandemic period," the Indonesian president was quoted by Antara.

During the two leaders’ meeting, a memorandum of understanding was agreed on cooperation in energy and mineral resources, cooperation in combating terrorism, and cooperation in eradicating the illegal trade of narcotics. The two leaders also discussed several regional issues.

For his part, President Phuc said Vietnam and Indonesia had agreed to achieve a trade target worth $15 billion by 2028.

Phuc said the two nations’ bilateral trade hit $11.5 billion in 2021, two years ahead of schedule, and this year’s figure could reach $13 billion.

In order to achieve the $15 billion target, President Widodo suggested Vietnam create favorable conditions for Indonesian goods to enter the country, particularly farm produce. Widodo also agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart’s proposal to boost bilateral investment cooperation.