Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Vietnam signed an extradition agreement here on Thursday.

Indonesia`s Minister of Justice and Human Rights Amir Sjamsudin signed the agreement with Vietnamese foreign minister Pham Binh Minh before President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and visiting Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang at the Merdeka Palace.

The agreement was signed following a bilateral meeting between the two countries held during a state-visit by Vietnam`s Presidente Truong Tan Sang to Indonesia on June 27-28.

The two countries also signed a mutual legal assistance agreement to deal with criminal cases.

The two heads of state said in their joint press statement the signing of the agreements in the field of law enforcement reflected increasing relations between the two countries.

"We, Indonesia and Vietnam, wish to cooperate sincerely to fight crimes and promote justice in both countries and in the region," President Yudhoyono said.

President Truong Tan Sang meanwhile said the signing of the agreements was a strong signal for the two countries to continue increasing cooperation in all fields.

"This underlines strong desires for the two countries to increase cooperation," he said.

On the occasion the two countries also conveyed their desire to upgrade their bilateral relations to become strategic partnership to provide an umbrella for closer cooperation between the two countries.

On the occasion the two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of agriculture.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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