Indonesia and India on Monday agreed to expand bilateral cooperation covering a range of new areas, including exclusive economic zone cooperation, alternative energy development and mutual legal assistance.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee signed the agreement at the end of the third ministerial joint commission meeting held at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry building here on June 15-18.

"The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive way. The delegations of the two countries held talks and exchanged views on various spheres of cooperation to explore and develop potentials of cooperation in all fields," Wirajuda was quoted by national Antara News Agency as saying.

"We realize the unique characteristics of relations between Indonesia and India which have had historical ties since several centuries ago," he added.

He emphasized that the two governments were highly convinced that the outcome of the joint commission meeting would lay a firm basis for the continuation of the bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

"Indonesia warmly welcomes the Indian prime minister's offer to help restore the Prambanan temple compounds as well as to follow up on the results of the joint commission meeting, especially those related to the development of nuclear technology," he said.

Meanwhile, Mukherjee said relations between Indonesia and India had increased significantly, particularly since the signing of a new strategic partnership agreement between the two countries during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to India in November 2005.

The various spheres of cooperation cover politics, defense and security, economy, trade, industry, tourism and culture, transportation, energy, health and pharmacy, education and training, as well as science and technology.

To follow up on the agreement, the two nations had agreed to an action plan to implement all bilateral cooperation in a concrete and measurable way, he said.

Indonesia and India established diplomatic ties on March 3, 1951. Two-way trade amounted to 4.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2006 compared to 3.9 billion dollars a year earlier. The figure is projected to reach 10 billion dollars by 2010.

Source: Xinhua