New Delhi, January 20
India and Indonesia are exploring the possibility of concluding an extradition treaty and mutual legal assistance treaty during Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visit to India next week as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. Official sources said the two countries would sign a wide-range of bilateral agreements and MOUs during the visit, covering politics, security, economic, science and technology, media, education and cultural spheres.

While they had signed an agreement on counter-terrorism and transnational crimes in 2004, the two countries have been negotiating the mutual legal assistance treaty and the extradition treaty for quite sometime. Talks were also on to renew a MoU on civil nuclear cooperation which was signed a few years ago.

During his 2005 visit to New Delhi, President Yudhoyono had signed a joint declaration with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries.

One of the aims of the strategic partnership in trade sector was to raise bilateral trade from $ 4 billion in 2005 to $ 10 billion by 2010. But the two countries surpassed the target in 2008 and it is expected to be doubled by 2015.

In an effort to boost the economic relationship, a joint group of officials from the two sides have finalised a study on the feasibility of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement and the two countries might start negotiations during President Yudhoyono's visit. Defence is another promising field for the two countries to explore for further cooperation. Although the two countries have a defence cooperation agreement in place, the relationship in this vital field has not made much progress.

Strategic observers say the two countries must enter into an intensive effort on defence cooperation projects. Joint naval projects could be an important area. The two countries could together work as a bulwark against China, which has been seeking to expand its influence in the region.

Indonesia is critical to the success of India’s ‘Look East’ policy. It remains a key player of ASEAN though it has always maintained a low profile in the regional grouping. It was the concurrence of then President Soehrato that proved to be one of the enabling factors for India to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1995 and a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1996.