Labuan Bajo, InfoPublik – Indonesia and Vietnam agreed to cooperate on literacy and utilization of digital space. This cooperation must provide benefits for people in the Southeast Asia (ASEAN) region.
This was conveyed by the Minister of Communication and Information of the Republic of Indonesia (Menkominfo RI), Johnny G Plate, after holding a bilateral meeting with Vietnam’s Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Manh Hung at Jayakarta Hotel, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (10/5/2023).
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit 2023 in Labuan Bajo. “The ASEAN region has potential. The growth of digital technology is high. The potential is huge and continues to grow,” said the Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information after the meeting.
On the occasion, the two parties also discussed experiences related to the development and use of information and communication technology, especially related to handling hoaxes, disinformation and cyber crime.
“The two countries also agreed on the importance of creating a joint legal umbrella for the development of digital space, including in ASEAN. For Indonesia and Vietnam, it was agreed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as an initial framework for cooperation,” he said, adding that Indonesia and Vietnam also underlined the importance of law enforcement in the digital space.
“Cooperation and collaboration in ASEAN are needed to tackle digital crime,” he said.
The Minister added that they agreed to support law enforcement against trafficking in persons (TPPO), especially through digital crimes.
“Vietnam and Indonesia are two countries with large populations in ASEAN and certainly have the same perspective, how to improve the ASEAN economy, especially the digital space and digitalization, including law enforcement,” said the Minister.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Minister of Information and Communication, Nguyen Manh Hung, considers cooperation between the two countries important and must be strengthened.
“The ASEAN region has high potential for digital economic growth, and the contribution of Indonesia and Vietnam with a large population can certainly encourage it to be realized faster in the region,” said Minister Nguyen.
He added, in September 2023, his party launched an MoU between the two ministries to be realized to serve as a basis for cooperation.
“The next step is a long-distance partnership between the two countries and the two ministries. So I think we have a lot in common to work together, especially since this is not only for the benefit of the two countries, but the ASEAN region,” he said.
