Philippines seeks to boost ties with Indonesia

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno Aquino III today expressed the hope that the relations between the Philippines and Indonesia would be further bolstered under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, who is on a three-day state visit in Manila.

"More than 65 years since the formal establishment of our bilateral ties, I believe we can continue to look to the future with optimism, and that our relations will be further strengthened during President Widodo's administration," the Philippine president said in a joint press statement in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

Aquino and Widodo witnessed the signing of four agreements that will further enhance cooperation between the two countries.

They include joint declaration on the protection of migrants and migrant workers and memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the field of vocational education and training, cooperation in education, research and training by the National Defense College and the Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional of Indonesia, and cooperation in combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.

Widodo invited Aquino to attend the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference that will be held in Jakarta and Bandung on April 22-24, as well as the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2015 that will be held in Bali.