Indonesia, South Korea agree on nuclear energy cooperation

Dec 4, 2006, 9:49 GMT

Jakarta - Indonesia and South Korea agreed on Monday to increase cooperation in energy development, military and security matters during a bilateral presidential summit.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told reporters he discussed with his South Korean counterpart, Roh Moo Hyun, ways to improve bilateral ties, regional security as well as global issues.

Yudhoyono said the two countries agreed to cooperate on nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as well as cooperation on defence, especially in the joint production of military gear.

He did not explain whether the cooperation on nuclear energy would have any link with Indonesia's controversial plans to construct a nuclear power plant.

Yudhoyono's government has approved the construction of the country's first nuclear, which is scheduled to be completed by 2016, on the densely populated and earthquake-prone central island of Java.

The two countries also agreed on joint cooperation in curbing the spread of bird flu virus and other areas of joint interests, said the Indonesian president, who described Roh's visit to Indonesia as opening a new phase for a strategic bilateral relations.

Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous nation, has recorded 57 deaths from avian influenza, making it the world's highest death toll from 74 confirmed cases. Vietnam is second with 42 deaths but has not had one this year.

Roh and Yudhoyono signed a joint declaration to form a strategic partnership in the areas of energy, trade and tourism. They also inked separate accords on energy, forestry, natuarl resources, and information and communications' technology, officials said,

Roh arrived in the Indonesian capital on Sunday as part of an Asian tour that will also take him to Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines to attend the annual 'ASEAN-plus-3' summit on December 11-13.

That summit will bring together the heads of state from all 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, plus South Korea, Japan and China.