India, Indonesia provide bulwark against radicalism, intolerance: Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said India and Indonesia provide a bulwark against radicalism and intolerance.

"We see India and Indonesia as two countries providing a bulwark against radicalism and intolerance. India values its cooperation with Indonesia to address these common security concerns and transnational threats," Mukherjee said while welcoming visiting Indonesia President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

"India looks forward to work with Indonesia to achieve the full potential of economic cooperation, maritime and air links and in increasing reciprocal investments. India would be happy to contribute to Indonesia's 'maritime fulcrum vision' of Indonesia archipelago and, thereby, also to the security of the Indo-Pacific region."

Observing that Indonesia is the largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and India's number one trade partner in the region, Mukherjee said bilateral trade was about $16 billion last year.

Pointing out that India values Indonesia's active support for strengthening India-Asean relations during 2017 while celebrating 15 years of the summit, he said: "We can try to realise the actual potential of our trade by diversifying our trade basket."

"The two countries share a common experience of struggle for freedom from colonial rule," the President said.

"Our proximity as close maritime neighbours indicates that this is a key area where we must work together as partners to achieve for strategic stability and security in the Indo-Pacific and safety and security of sea lanes."

--IANS

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