Joint Statement Between the Republic of Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono paid a state visit to Pakistan on 24-25 November,
2005 at the invitation of the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
H.E. Pervez Musharraf.
2. H.E President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was accorded a state
ceremonial reception at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad.
3. President Yudhoyono expressed on behalf of the Government and
people of Indonesia his most profound condo lences, sympathy and
sol idarity to the Government and people of Pakistan for the tragic
earthquake of 8 October 2005. President Yudhoyono also offered
Indones ia's ass istance to help alleviate the suffering of the earthquake
victims. President Yudhoyono also expressed heartfelt gratitude for
Pak istan's support fo r Indonesia during the Tsunami cri sis.
4. Pres ident Musharraf and President Yudhoyono recalled the historic
ties between Pakistan and Indones ia and the close in teraction between the
two countries fo r almost five decades, wh ich has enriched their bilateral
relations since independence.
5. The two leaders proudly recalled that Indonesia and Pak istan
co-sponsored the Asian African Conference in 1955, and Indonesia
appreciates Pakistan's continuing support to promote. Asian-African
Indonesia are the main proponents of the Non-Aligned Movement that has
successfull y contributed to end colonial ism. The two countri es have
cooperated closely to encourage developing countries to improve their
socio-economic conditions and pursue goals for the prosperity and uplift of
their people.
6. The two leaders recognized that the two nations shared
socio-cultural and religious traditions that have cemented relations between
Pakistan and Indonesia with unique characteristics and commonalities.
Pakistan and Indonesia stand proudly together as two of the largest Muslim
popul ated countries with a mutual stake in each other' s progress,
prosperity, stability, security, and territorial integrity.
7. President Musharraf and President Yudhoyono noted that the
economic growth in Asia offers the two countries new opportunities for
enhanced economic engagement for their mutual benefit. The two leaders
reaffirmed the ir common commitment to their primary goal of ensuring
broad-based and people-centered economic development designed to
improve the quality of life of their respective people.
8. Pakistan and Indonesia view ASEAN as an important forum for
regional peace, stabi lity and economic prosperity. Indonesia appreciates
Pakistan's Sectoral Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN and supports
efforts towards Pakistan's Full Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN.
9. The two leaders noted that bilateral trade is steadily growing and is
expected to exceed US$ 600 million in 2005. This year has a lso seen a
considerable untapped potential to divers ify trade and further increase
investments, taking advantage of existing complementarities. Both sides
agreed to take measures to elevate further bilateral trade from current
levels to reach at least US$ 1 billion in the near future.
10. The two leaders acknowledged the importance of closer economic
cooperation between the two countries. They welcomed the signing of the
Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(F ACEP) between Indonesia and Pakistan and expressed their willingness
to sign a Free Trade Agreement soon. To ensure a fast track strategy
towards this goal, it was decided that an agreement on Preferential Trade
Agreement (PTA) shall be negotiated in the near futu re by the relevant
Ministries.
11. Pakistan and Indonesia agreed to enhance peop le-to-peop le contacts
and encourage cultural cooperation to further strengthen the bond between
the two nations. The two leaders welcomed the mutual intention to abolish
visas for diplomatic and service/official passport holders to faci litate
contacts between officials from the two countries.
12. The two leaders believed that terrorism constitutes one of the most
serious threats to international peace and security. Pakistan and Indones ia,
being themselves the target of terrorist actions, unequivocally condemned
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Both the leaders reaffinned
the need to counter tendencies to associate terrorism with any religion.
They underlined the necessity of addressing the root causes of terrorism,
13. The two leaders condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Bali on l
October 2005 and Karachi on 15 November 2005. They committed to fully
support each other to eradicate the threat of terrorism. President
Musharraf commended the Indonesian government fo r their success m
raiding and subsequently killing one of the most wanted terrorists m
Indonesia Dr. Azahari recently.
14. The two leaders believed that Pakistan and Indonesia have to play
an important role to promote regional peace and security. In this regard,
they welcomed the significance of the Bilateral MoU on combating
terrorism and agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Combating
Terrorism.
15. Both leaders rej ected intolerance and extremism. Recognizing that
enlightened moderation is the way forward for the Islamic Ummah to
progress, the two leaders stressed that Islamic societies need to further
reform. They were of the view that the international community must
simu ltaneously address the root causes of international terrorism to
effectively eliminate it.
16. Pakistan plays a vital role in Asian and South Asian affairs.
Indonesia welcomes the composite Dialogue process, which includes
Confidence Building Measures ( CBMs), Jammu and Kashmir, and other
bilateral issues, between Pakistan and India aimed at peacefully resolving
Pakistan-India differences, and hopes for its success. It also welcomes the
recent positive developments resulting from this process, including
India. The opening of the border crossings in Kashmir, in the aftermath of
the g th October earthquake, is a very welcome development.
17. Pakistan and Indonesia a lso acknowledge the potential of SAARC in
bringing stability and prosperity to the South Asian region, and earnes tly
hope that SAARC would be an effective forum to bring peace and
prosperity in the region.
18. Indonesia and Pakistan recognize that the stability and development
in Afghanistan is vital fo r regional peace.
19. The two leaders reaffinned the importance of close relations
between Indonesia and Pakistan and expressed their conviction that
President Yudhoyono 's successful state visit to Pakistan will enhance the
friend ly and brotherly relations between the two nations. The two leaders
pledged to remain in close contact with each other.
20. Pres ident Yudhoyono, on behalf of the Indonesian government and
people, expressed his appreciation to the government and people of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan fo r the wann hospitality extended to him and
his entourage. He invited President Musharraf to visit Indones ia on
mutually convenient dates. The invitation was accepted with pleasure,
with dates to be decided through dip lomatic channels.
