"The two countries agreed to increase political, economic, investment and trade cooperation."Ulan Bator (ANTARA News) - Indonesia supports Mongolia to be one of the participating countries in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
In a press conference after meeting with Mongolia`s President Tsakhia Elbergdorj here on Thursday Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he welcomed Mongolia`s wish to become part of APEC and play a more active role in the regional cooperation including to become an ASEAN dialog partner.
"I welcomed Mongolia`s wish to participate actively in regional cooperation such as in ASEAN, East Asia Summit and also APEC. I also invite you to visit Indonesia to increase cooperation in the future," he said.
He said cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics and security could be deepened and Indonesia fully supports all efforts to achieve it.
"In the non-economic field we agreed with the Mongolian president to cooperate in the fields of democracy, human rights and rule of law. I support his leadership in the development of democracy in the framework of ASEAN partnership for democracy and community for democracy," he said.
President Yudhoyono said democracy must continue to be developed in the region and Indonesia has asked all parties to play a role including Mongolia so that the Asian region in particular could develop democracy to improve the welfare of the people.
"I also invited you to come and participate in the Bali Democracy Forum at the end of this year. I also support cooperation in the military and defense fields as a good idea. I agreed that with regard to developing our peace keeping center we will send our soldiers to Mongolia to train in peace keeping and so will Mongolia to Indonesia," he said.
President Tsakhia Elbergdorj meanwhile said he had agreed with President Yudhoyono to set up a consultation forum at a foreign ministerial level to discuss periodically the implementation of the two countries` cooperation agreements.
"The two countries agreed to increase political, economic, investment and trade cooperation and also to increase regional cooperation in the Asia Pacific and to make it more specific consultative dialogs would be held between foreign ministers and on cooperation mechanism at government levels and to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of democracy and democracy education," he said.
President Elbergdorj also said Mongolia wished to increase its role in the regional and international cooperation more intensively.
"Through this opportunity cooperation in the field of defense has been agreed to be increased such joint exercises for regional and international peace keeping," he said.
President Yudhoyono would proceed to Russia to attend the APEC Summit. Indonesia is scheduled to host the APEC summit next year.
Mongolia has long wished to become an APEC member and dialog partner in the ASEAN regional cooperation, economic and other cooperation, President Elbergdorj said.
(T.P008*R018/H-YH/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
