RI, Australia bound by common strategic interests

In spite of the disputes that occasionally arise between Indonesia and Australia, the two neighbor countries in reality share many strategic interests that call for continuing cooperation for mutual benefit and support.

Since the two Pacific neighbors are bound together by a wealth of common interests and need, Indonesian Vice President Boediono said in Perth, Western Australian on Thursday that the two countries relations should be more advanced in the future.

At a business gathering in Perth, organized by Western Australian Territorial Government in cooperation with the Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC), the Indonesian vice president said the two countries had numerous opportunities that could be developed in various fields.

Boediono made the statement when speaking on

Indonesian-Australian cooperation opportunities before tens of Australian business makers at the gathering in Perth.

"The cooperation between the two countries should advance further in the future because we have strategic interests with mutual benefit and support," Boediono told the members of AIBC.

AIBC is the peak, non-profit business association involved with the promotion and facilitation of trade and investment between Australia and Indonesia.

Besides Vice President Boediono, the gathering was also attended by Indonesian National Education Minister M Nuh, State Minister for Administrative Reforms EE Mangindaan, and Australian Agriculture and Forestry Minister Garry Redmen.

Referring Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard`s trip to Indonesian in November 2010, Vice President Boediono said it was of a great significance to the relations between the two countries that have to be stepped up further in the future.

"There are still many untapped opportunities that have to be improved optimally by the business makers and the people of the two countries," Boediono said.

He pointed out that economic relations between the tow counties have been running well so far with the presence of Australian investors at mining sectors in Indonesia.

Therefore the vice president said the two countries cooperation in economy and commercial should be stepped up even further.

"Such cooperations should be improved because we want to move forward together," the vice president said.

Boediono said the reason why the relations between the countries should be improved was that Australia is an agricultural economic state with unique commodities.

In addition, Boediono said there was an opportunity to develop agribusiness with Australia and to increase the supply network for agricultural products.

Another reason to advance the two countries cooperation, according to the vice president, was that Australia at present is the main destination of Indonesian students to gain higher education there.

"There are at least 18,400 Indonesian students studying at various leading universities in Australia at present," Boediono said.

In the visit to Perth, the vice president also encouraged more Indonesian students in Australia, especially those who were studying at the University of Western Australia (UWA) to conduct research on food.

"Many students from Malaysia have conducted research on food at the University of Western Australia (UWA), and therefore I encourage more Indonesian students in Australia to do the same thing," Boediono said.

Boediono made the statement on Wednesday after a meeting with Western Australian Deputy Premier Kim Hames and UWA Vice-Chancellor Prof Alan Robson.

Boediono was on a five-day working visit to Australia from Wednesday to Sunday, March 9-13, 2011 for meetings and activities in Perth, Canberra and Sydney.

After the meeting with Alan Robson, the vice president discovered that UWA was reliable in developing agriculture and that he hoped more Indonesian students could conduct research on food at the university.

"According to Alan Robson, an expert in agriculture, many students from Malaysia have conducted research on food at the university," Boediono said.

At the meeting with Robson, the vice president told him that the number of Indonesian students of various fields of study at UWA would probably be increased.

"There are special efforts to increase the number of Indonesian students completing their study at the University of Western Australia," said Boediono, who gained his bachelor degree at the same university under a scholarship from Colombo Plan.

While at the meeting with Western Australian Deputy Premier Kim Hames, the vice president discussed and exchanged view with the former on food issue and economic development between the two countries.

"In essence Hames is interested in establishing closer relations with Indonesia," said the vice president who was in Perth to receive an honorary doctorate from the UWA.

Vice presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat said Boediono would receive the honorary doctorate for his meritorious services to the people during his career in the government so far.

On March 11 the vice president and his entourage would go to Canberra to meet with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and to attend a gathering with Indonesian community there.

After spending one day in Canberra, Boediono would go to Sydney on March 12 to meet with Australian business community to talk on Indonesia`s economic progress and business opportunities Australian businessmen could avail of in Indonesia.

"The core of the visit is in a effort to step up the already good relation between Indonesia and Australia and continue to be strengthened in the future," Yopie Hidayat said.(*)  

Source: ANTARA