Indonesia and Vietnam discuss South China sea and energy issues as Indonesian president visits

Indonesia and Vietnam agreed to cooperate on fisheries on Friday as Indonesian President Joko Widodo met Vietnam’s President Vo Van Thuong on Friday

HANOI, Vietnam -- Indonesia's president visited Hanoi on Friday for talks with his Vietnamese counterpart on maritime security in the disputed South China Sea, bilateral cooperation and environmental issues.

The meeting was aimed at bolstering security and economic ties between Hanoi and Jakarta amid China’s growing influence in the region.

After meeting Indonesia's Joko Widodo, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong issued a statement stressing the need for stability in the South China Sea. The two countries' delegations also signed a document on closer cooperation between their fisheries and memorandums of understanding in the fields of information technology and communications.

Vietnam is one of several countries defending its territorial interest against China in the tense region. Indonesia and China enjoy generally positive ties, but Jakarta has expressed concern about what it sees as Beijing's encroachment on its exclusive economic zone in the waters.

Trade between Indonesia and Vietnam increased by 23% to $14.1 billion last year and the target is for it to reach $15 billion, said the Vietnamese president.