Indonesia and Philippines join to fight crime and terrorism

Indonesia and Philippines join to fight crime and terrorism

2011-03-08 21:42:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The governments of Indonesia and the Philippines on Tuesday agreed to boost cooperation in their efforts to fight terrorism.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a joint press conference with Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino said both countries have agreed on further cooperating in several sectors such as politics, security, and defense.

The two leaders met at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia where they signed three Memorandums of Understanding to fight terrorism and transnational crime. They also discussed education, sport, and youth.

Both Yudhoyono and Aquino agreed that the delimitation of maritime boundaries was a key factor regarding security concerns, as well as protecting the marine environment.

President Aquino is on an official three-day visit to Indonesia, where he will also discuss disaster mitigation, media, and the Spratly Islands situation, which are a group of islands in the South China Sea. The islands are being disputed by the Philippines, as well as Vietnam, China, Malaysia, and Brunei.

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