RI, THAILAND TO FIGHT FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' INTERESTS

Jakarta, Nov 27 (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Thailand have agreed to fight for the interests of the developing countries, ASEAN member countries in particular, at the climate change summit in Copenhagen in December 2009, the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok said.

According to a written embassy statement made available to ANTARA on Friday, the agreement to give priority to the interests of developing countries was reached at a meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M Natalegawa and his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromnya.

The two countries which are grouped in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be involved in the process to forge a new agreement on climate to replace the Kyoto Protocol that will expire in 2012.

At his meeting with the Thai foreign minister, Natalegawa expressed Indonesia's commitment to increasing relations between the two nations.

Among the issues of mutual concern discussed at the meeting were efforts to step up relations in the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels.

Efforts to increase ASEAN's profile in the United Nations were also discussed. Both nations also agreed to increase cooperation in the fishery sector and to prepare a Thailand-Indonesia Joint Commission meeting in 2010.

Natalegawa was conducting a two-day visit on November 26-27, 2009 to Thailand as part of his introductory visits to ASEAN nations after he was named Indonesian foreign minister last October.

During his tour of Thailand, the Indonesian foreign minister also paid a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the the Thai parliament building.

In his meeting with Vejjajive, Natalegawa conveyed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's warm regards, and reconfirmed Indonesia's commitment to continuing advancing the relations between the two countries.

Indonesia and Thailand have enjoyed harmonious diplomatic ties and mutually advantageous cooperation. Both countries will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2010.