Jakarta, Bangkok To Reel In Illegal Fishing

The Jakarta Globe, February 20, 2009 

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agreed on Friday to work together to address the problem of illegal fishing. 

“Indonesia and Thailand will improve cooperation on the development of an integrated fishing industry. We hope to accelerate the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in this area,” Yudhoyono said, adding that the bilateral meeting was productive. 

The two countries also agreed to deepen their cooperation on trade and investment matters in the face of the global economic downturn, and pledged to work together to help the private sector to develop alternative energy sources. 

“We agreed to share our experience and know-how,” Yudhoyono said. 

Bilateral trade volumes between Indonesia and Thailand have expanded by an average annual rate of 21 percent over each of the past five years and hit $8.7 billion in the first three quarters of 2008. 

Abhisit thanked Indonesia and the greater regional community for their patience and understanding while Thailand deals with Muslim unrest in its southern provinces. 

The president’s meeting with Abhisit comes ahead of final preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Hua Hin, Thailand from next Friday to March 1. 

Abhisit, 45, arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday afternoon. He was greeted in an official welcome ceremony at the Merdeka Palace, followed by a 19-gun salute. 

He then held talks with Yudhoyono in the Merdeka Palace. Delegations from both countries held bilateral discussions on a wide range of issues, including investment, agriculture, human trafficking, drug smuggling and terrorism, as well as how Southeast Asian countries can jointly respond to the global economic crisis. 

After meeting Yudhoyono, Abhisit spoke with Vice President Jusuf Kalla. In the evening, Abhisit and his entourage attended a dinner at the State Palace. 

Abhisit was scheduled to visit the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery and the Asean Secretariat in South Jakarta today, before returning to Bangkok in the afternoon.

Sally Piri