PHOTO: AP

FIRMING UP TIES: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday agreed to establish a "strategic partnership" between their countries in keeping with contemporary realities.

Promising to impart stronger economic and socio-political dimensions to their relationship, they said in a joint declaration that India and Indonesia must adapt and elevate their ties to take on present and future challenges.

"As the world's largest democracies, and as independent-minded nations with a long tradition of internationalism, the combined voice of Indonesia and India can make a difference in international affairs," the joint declaration said.

Defence ties

Mr. Yudhoyono, it said, welcomed India's offer of defence cooperation — specifically in the areas of supplies, technologies, joint production and joint projects. The declaration did not give any details.

Calling for more visits by defence officials, the leaders agreed to hold an annual "strategic dialogue" at the level of senior officials, with the first meeting to be held in the first half of 2006.

Condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as criminal and unjustifiable, irrespective of motives, Dr. Singh and Mr. Yudhoyono deplored "any and all" attempts to link it with any particular religion or ethnic group.

Target for two-way trade

While agreeing to set up a joint study group to examine the feasibility of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, they expressed satisfaction that two-way trade was set to exceed $4 billion in 2005. They set a trade target of $10 billion by 2010.

Welcoming the close cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation and Indonesia's National Institute of Aeronautics and Space of Indonesia (LAPAN), Dr. Singh expressed appreciation for the assistance extended by LAPAN for the setting up of ISRO's second Telemetry, Tracking and Command Centre in Biak, in Indonesia's Papua province. The Centre is to be commissioned soon.

"The Indonesian President expressed the wish that the process of transfer of technology and capacity building between ISRO and LAPAN could be intensified. Furthermore, he expressed hope for greater bilateral cooperation in such undertakings as the development of rockets; the utilisation of Indian remote sensing satellites..." the declaration said.

India, which will attend the First East Asia Summit in December in Kuala Lumpur, expressed appreciation for Indonesia's support for its participation.

"While acknowledging the centrality of ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) in leading the process of creating this new regional architecture, both countries affirmed the need for all 16 EAS (East Asia Summit) countries to fully participate and actively contribute towards a common vision of an East Asian Community that would facilitate closer regional cooperation and integration. In this regard, they [Dr. Singh and Mr. Yudhoyono] highlighted the importance of the development of a road map and modalities for the progressive realisation of the East Asian Community," the declaration said.

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