Full military cooperation reinstated after training program was suspended over offensive materials displayed at an Australian base

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Malcolm Turnbull has trumpeted full restoration of defence cooperation with Indonesia and improved access for Australian sugar and cattle exports as outcomes achieved from Joko Widodo’s visit.

At a press conference in Sydney after their bilateral meeting, the Australian prime minister and Indonesian president said it had reinforced the countries’ strong relationship and pledged support for concluding the Indonesia-Australia comprehensive economic partnership agreement by the end of 2017.

Turnbull said that Australia was committed to Indonesia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo arrives in Australia for two-day visit Read more

Widodo said that the relationship was strongest when these principles were respected and were accompanied with a commitment to the principle of non-interference in each other’s political affairs.

In January Indonesia suspended military cooperation with Australia for “technical reasons” believed to relate to offensive materials displayed at an Australian military base.

Indonesia later clarified the suspension only related to joint language training due to “a small incident that has offended our dignity as a nation”.

On Sunday Turnbull said he and Widodo agreed to “the full restoration of defence cooperation, training exchanges, and activities”.

Turnbull said Australia and Indonesia were committed to countering the threat of foreign fighters returning from Syria and Iraq, including with a $40m commitment from Australia for the second phase of the countries’ joint justice program.

Turnbull said both countries encouraged parties in the South China Sea dispute to resolve it in line with international law, presenting a joint face against China’s island-building program, which the International Court of Justice said could not ground territorial claims.

He said the economic partnership agreement being negotiated would help Australian and Indonesian industries, including by boosting jobs.

Turnbull said Indonesia had agreed to lower sugar tariffs to 5% in line with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and for longer-term export permits for “a wider range of cattle in terms of weight and age to be exported to Indonesia”.

In return Australia would abolish tariffs on pesticides and herbicides to put them on an even footing with other trading partners, he said.

Widodo said that he had told Turnbull the key issue in concluding the trade agreement was removal of trade barriers for Indonesian products including paper and palm oil.

In other announcements, Turnbull said Australia would open a new consulate general in Indonesia’s second largest city, Surabaya.

Widodo announced that the leaders had supported the establishment of Indonesian language centres in Darwin, Brisbane and Sydney in addition to those in Perth, Melbourne and Canberra.

Malcolm Turnbull says there is 'cautious optimism' about deal on South China Sea Read more

Australia’s relationship with Indonesia remains strong despite a number of causes of tension not addressed in comments after the meeting, including the Indonesian foreign ministry’s warning that One Nation’s views on Islam are a “concern”.

Relations have substantially improved since 2014 when Indonesia demanded Australia stop asylum policy “operations” that resulted in the Australian navy entering its waters and revelation in 2013 that Australia had attempted to listen in on the personal phone calls of then Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and other confidantes.

Widodo will return to Australia in 2018 when it will hold a special summit with Asean leaders.

Widodo thanked Australia for its support of Indonesia’ chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association and said Turnbull would attend the Iora leaders summit in Indonesia in March 2017.