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Journalism of Courage
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has now been a state guest in New Delhi twice in five years,as evidence of Indias commitment to this relationship. The two nations,once close post-colonial brothers,had drifted apart as non-alignment became irrelevant,losing a sense of how much they could achieve together. In a vastly changed world order,they have realised once again the promise of close ties. This will no longer be about charting a middle ground,but joining forces when power is shifting in Asias favour.
This is not an abstract relationship. The pacts signed during Yudhoyonos visit show the concrete economic foundation of bilateral ties. Delhi and Jakarta announced negotiations to increase bilateral trading volume to 25 billion by 2015. India has already implemented an FTA with ASEAN,of which Indonesia is the largest member. Now,its moving towards a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement. The new MoUs include infrastructure,mining and manufacturing. Indian investment in Indonesia has steadily increased in the last two decades; now,India will become the second-highest investor in Indonesia. India will invest,build and manufacture in Indonesia,while it taps valuable energy and mineral resources. This South-South investment is also an important growth strategy for the developing world,amidst the weakening of developed economies. As part of the G-20 and the worlds fastest growing economies,India and Indonesia have a key role in
rebalancing the global economy.
An extradition treaty and one on mutual legal assistance have also been inked. Delhi and Jakarta will intensify counter-terror cooperation,improve intelligence sharing and the liaison between their law enforcement agencies. Looking beyond economics and commerce,as part of their larger international responsibility,these two democratic states have a crucial role in shaping Asian political and security structures and institutions against the backdrop of a rising China. Part of that strategic collaboration is leveraging their shared maritime spaces through increased naval cooperation in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The joint statement issued in Delhi also underlines wider cooperation in foras like the UN,WTO,G-20 and so on. Jakarta is in many ways Delhis perfect partner for recasting Asia and
the world.
