Indonesia has welcomed five proposals put forward by Bangladesh to strengthen bilateral ties and expressed interest in upgrading the existing relationship to a long-term strategic partnership.

Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at his office on Tuesday.

Matta is on an official visit to Bangladesh from October 5 to 9 at the invitation of Humaiun, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The two sides discussed the full range of bilateral relations, including trade and investment, energy, health, disaster management, education and training, consular cooperation, and issues of mutual interest at regional and multilateral forums.

Humaiun put forward five proposals to deepen bilateral ties: restoring visa-on-arrival facilities for Bangladeshi nationals travelling to Indonesia, increasing Indonesian imports of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products, procuring jute bags from Bangladesh through a government-to-government arrangement for eco-friendly packaging, opening the Indonesian market to Bangladeshi potatoes, and establishing institutional cooperation in disaster management.

He also handed Matta a draft memorandum of understanding on disaster management.

Highlighting Indonesia’s position as the world’s largest halal food consumer market, Humaiun called for stronger cooperation in the sector and urged the two countries to work towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Matta welcomed Bangladesh’s proposals and suggested undertaking priority joint projects over the next five to 10 years to advance the goal of a strategic partnership.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of launching direct flights between Dhaka and Jakarta to strengthen people-to-people connectivity.

Humaiun thanked Indonesia for its continued support for Bangladesh at regional and international forums and sought its backing for Bangladesh’s application for ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership status, membership of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar.

Matta assured Bangladesh of Indonesia’s continued support on these issues.

Senior officials from the Foreign Ministry’s Southeast Asia Wing and the ambassadors of Bangladesh and Indonesia in their respective capitals were present at the meeting.