JOINT COMMUNIQUE
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
2 FEBRUARY 2013
1. President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E DR. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono paid an official visit to Nigeria on 2-3 February 2013.
2. During the visit, the two Presidents held talks on promoting and further strengthening the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia. Both leaders provided strategic guidance and direction to further enhance bilateral ties and friendship. The two Presidents also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and reached common understanding.
3. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of friendly relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Nigeria in the past 48 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1965. Both sides expressed their readiness and strong commitment to expand cooperation in various fields and promote the growth of the partnership between the two countries in line with the principles of mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual interest.
5. Hence, the two leaders agreed that exchange of visits involving high ranking officials of the two countries need to be intensified. In this regard, the two leaders instructed that the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Indonesia and Nigeria should convene its first meeting in the nearest time to follow up the outcomes of President Yudhoyono's visit to Nigeria on 2-3 February 2013.
6. The two leaders noted the important role played by the two countries towards the maintenance of peace and stability in their respective regions and expressed readiness to work together to promote international peace and security and democracy as well as progress for all.
7. The two Presidents spoke highly of the friendly relations and cooperation between Africa and Asia, and expressed their willingness to work together to promote the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership.
8. Both sides held discussions on the work of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and agreed to work with other UN member states to realize the mandate of the Panel.
POLITICAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION
9. The two Heads of State agreed to encourage exchange of officials in Defense and Security sectors with a view to boosting cooperation in these areas most especially in the interest of developing respective strategic industries.
Presidents agreed for a closer cooperation between the peace-keeping centers of both countries that would include sharing of experience and best practices, as well as exchange of trainers and experts visits.
11. Both leaders also agreed to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries by encouraging participation of Indonesian and Nigerian military officers in the training programs at the staff colleges of both countries.
12. The two leaders shared the view that terrorism remains a global security threat. They agreed to foster closer bilateral partnership to address this threat by cooperating closely in exchange of information, training and education as well as sharing of best practices. The two leaders instructed the relevant agencies of both countries to assess counter-terrorism needs
upon which bilateral collaboration would be appropriately developed.
13. Both Presidents reiterated that drug abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their chemical precursors are to be strongly and effectively combated . In order to strengthen bilateral cooperation in this area the Presidents welcomed the signing of the MoU to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics drugs, psychotropic substances, and their chemical precursors.
ECONOMIC, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT COOPERATION
15. Both leaders, with a view to further enhancing the bilateral trade and investment, agreed to encourage contacts between their countries' respective National Chambers of Commerce. They also instructed relevant agencies in both countries to work toward the conclusion of the following agreement and MoUs:
a. MoU on the establishment of cooperation between our Ministry of SM Es;
b. MoU between the two Ministers on Marine and Fisheries;
c. Agreement on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investment between Indonesia and Nigeria;
d. MoU on the cooperation between the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigerian Association Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
16. Both parties agreed that Nigeria and Indonesia would share best practices and capacity building in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
17. The two Presidents declared their intention to encourage agricultural cooperation between the two countries especially in the areas of cocoa, palm oil, rubber plantation as well as the revival of groundnut of Northern Nigeria.
SOCIAL AND CULTURE AND MEDIA
19. President Yudhoyono invited more Nigerian students to take part in various scholarship programs extended by the Government of Indonesia.
20. The two Presidents also agreed on concrete exchanges in sports whereby Nigeria assists Indonesia in raising the standard of football while Indonesia assists Nigeria in Badminton.
21. The two leaders affirmed that people-to-people contacts could become the heart of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Nigeria. They acknowledged that the greater people-to-people contacts would provide a more solid foundation for strengthening of the relationship and deepening mutual understanding and friendly ties between the two countries and their peoples. In that connection, the two Presidents called for greater flow of scholars, students, mass media community as well as youth exchange of both countries.
22. The two presidents underlined their commitment to promote bilateral technical and capacity building cooperation in agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries as well as other sectors such as industry, SMEs development, democratization, women empowerment and good governance.
MUTUAL SUPPORT ON CANDIDATURES
23. Both Presidents discussed the re-election of Dr. Kanayo Felix Nwanze as President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the candidature of Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu for the post of Director General of World Trade Organization for the period of 2013-2017 and agreed on the support of both candidates on the basis of reciprocity.
INVITATION TO PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN TO PAY A STATE VISIT TO INDONESIA
25. President Yudhoyono extended an invitation for President Goodluck Jonathan to pay a state visit to Indonesia to further promote bilateral cooperation and friendship between the two countries. President Jonathan accepted the invitation.
CLOSING
