Jakarta (VNA) – Former IndonesianAmbassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi has shared th🧜at he is “very impressedthat Vietnamese people are very humble and hard working” that are formed and nurtured during the process ♌of national construction and development.

Speaking with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident reporters in Jakarta ahead the state visit toIndonesia by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc from December 21-23, Ibnu, who worked in Vietnam in the 2016-2020 tenure, said that since the "Doi moi" (renewal) process was launched in Vietnam over 35years ago, the Vietnamese Party, leaders and people have been determined to develop and modernise the country. “When I was there, I can see the determination, especiallyby the young people, to strive, to be more knowledgeable. They don't want to beleft behind by the other countries. So it is the determination by theVietnamese people that I really admire,” he said. According to the former ambassador, Vietnam has really impressive economicgrowth, especially since Doi moi. “When I was there from 2016 until 2020, I could see thesignificant growth in Vietnam-Indonesia relations, especially in terms ofeconomic and trade, from only 5.5 billion USD until 10 billion USD,” he said,adding that the two countries have set a target to increase their two-way trade revenue to 15billion USD in 2028 – quite impressive figures. Vietnam is considered as one of the strong economic partnerfor Indonesia, in ASEAN countries. He expressed his hope that besides economic and politic cooperation,the two countries will continue boosting people-to-people contact, socio-cultureties, not only at the government level but also at the people level from students tobusinessman.

Ibnu also expected that the link between Vietnam and Indonesia,especially by air, should be more intensified.

He said that at the beginning of his term of duty, there was only one flight from Jakarta to HoChi ෴Minh City by Vietnam Airlines. But when he finished his t💟erm, flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bali and fromHanoi to Bali were added.

Indonesia and Vietnam planned to open a direct flight route fromJakarta to Hanoi but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Ibnu said that he was happy to hear that Vietnamese PresidentNguyen Xuan Phuc is going toꦕ visit Indonesia and that the visit will solidifythe strong foundation that has been established between Indonesia and Vietnam – thetwo ASEAN countries have very long relations in terms of the struggle for theindependence, and up to now their relationsh🐷ip has getting stronger.

He said that the visit will only strengthen the relationshipbetween the two countries in all dimensions, not only in economy, but also interms of politics, investment, business, as well as in terms of people-to-people exchange./.