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Australia and Indonesia declare their relationship is back on track as they sign an agreement to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts and renew the Australia-Indonesia defence cooperation agreement. Courtesy ABC News 24.
PT0M55S 620 349Australia and Indonesia have declared their relationship back on track amid improved co-operation on counter-terrorism and shared concerns about peace in the South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne met in Sydney on Monday with their Indonesian counterparts at which they "agreed to redouble efforts to respond to the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and their return".
"We have agreed that the relationship is in very good shape," Ms Bishop said.
After meeting with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, they expressed "concern at the recent and ongoing developments in the South China Sea", where Beijing has been building artificial islands complete with at least one military-grade runway to bolster its territorial claims over the strategically important waters.
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The so-called "2+2 Dialogue" was the most significant meeting on Australian soil since relations went into a chilly period following the executions by Indonesia of Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. It followed a visit last month by Malcolm Turnbull, which Ms Marsudi said had "opened a new bridge of our bilateral relations".
Also on Monday, Attorney-General George Brandis and his senior counter-terrorism chiefs were meeting with Indonesian officials in Jakarta, which followed the arrests of nine suspected Indonesian terrorists, reportedly partly on information provided by the Australian Federal Police.
Ms Marsudi said that intelligence-sharing was one of the most important aspects to co-operation on counter-terrorism, as the two countries signed a new memorandum of understanding on combating terror.
In the communique issued after the meeting, they vowed to "work more closely together to address the threat [of terrorism] including through sharing of intelligence and counter-messaging strategies".
General Ryacudu said that relationship had experienced "ups and downs" but this was to be expected.
"But we are really determined to continue to be friends," he said.
In a refrain picked up by the Australian ministers, he told the meeting that "You can choose a friend but being neighbours is a destiny."
Ms Marsudi added: "What we have is two options: whether we want to spur as develop [as much] co-operation as possible, or we stay on the differences. I think we've committed to choose the first."
On the South China Sea, Ms Bishop said the two countries agreed on "the importance of a rules-based international order, respect for international law, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight".
Australia has stepped up routine surveillance missions over the waters as part of a deliberate effort to signal to China that it will continue operating there despite China's efforts to dominate the area. The US has sailed a warship close to one of Beijing's artificial islands.
Ms Bishop said Australia would "continue to transit the South China Sea or fly over the South China Sea in accordance with international law as we've done in the past".
Asked whether such actions might undermine the diplomatic of regional groups such as ASEAN, of which Indonesia is a leading member, General Ryacudu said there had been a lack of communication and consultation over the South China Sea in the past though this was improving.
The ministers raised the need to boost economic ties. Indonesia is only Australia's 12th biggest trading partner despite its size and proximity. They said they "looked forward to reinvigorating negotiation towards an economic agreement that would increase trade and investment".
The countries also vowed to renew their "defence co-operation agreement" which covers issues including joint exercises, maritime security and disaster responses.
Source: Australia-Indonesia relationship in 'very good shape': Julie Bishop
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