India and Indonesia vowed on Wednesday to strengthen security, trade and diplomatic relations between Asia's largest democracies as part of a new partnership.
The declaration came after talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is on a two-day official visit to New Delhi.
"This partnership, based on shared values and commitment to democracy and multilateralism, seeks to impart higher strategic and political dimensions to bilateral relations", a joint statement by the world largest Hindu and Muslim nations said.
On Tuesday, Yudhoyono called for greater defence co-operation between the neighbours after visiting a state aeronautical complex in the southern city of Bangalore before flying to Delhi.
The statement said both Jakarta and New Delhi wanted a strategic partnership "in keeping with contemporary realities". It did not specify what these were but analysts said both were uneasy about Beijing's growing economic and military clout.
"Amid the changes in the region, including the rise of China and the new assertiveness of Japan, India and Indonesia find it necessary to launch a strategic partnership that will include defence co-operation," foreign policy analyst C. Raja Mohan said.
Analysts said New Delhi should use Yudhoyono's visit to boost its influence in south-east Asia, adding that the Wednesday accord came at the right time, ahead of the ASEAN and East Asia summits in Malaysia next month where Asian security will be discussed.
Yudhoyono's visit comes a day after Washington restored military ties with Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, as a reward for its co-operation against al Qaeda. Both India and Indonesia have faced attacks by Islamic militants and, like Jakarta, New Delhi has been successfully pushing closer strategic ties with the United States.
India and Indonesia border the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, and their navies patrol the pirate-infested area. On Wednesday, the two sides also signed pacts for training of diplomats and boosting co-operation between fishing industries.
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