: Today, I am standing alongside my friend, Indonesian President Bapak Prabowo Subianto, to make what is a historic announcement. The governments of Australia and Indonesia have just substantively concluded negotiations on a new bilateral treaty on our common security. Australia's relationship with Indonesia is based on friendship, trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to peace and stability in our region.
This treaty is a recognition from both our nations that the best way to secure that peace and stability is by acting together. It signals a new era in the Australia-Indonesia relationship. The treaty is predominantly based on the landmark security agreement signed by the Keating and Suharto governments 30 years ago. It will build on the 2006 Lombok Treaty that, among other things, reaffirmed Indonesia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. It also builds on the Defence Cooperation Agreement that we signed together last year.
This treaty will commit Australia and Indonesia to consult at a leader and ministerial level on a regular basis on matters of security to identify and undertake mutually beneficial security activities, and, if either or both countries security is threatened, to consult and consider what measures may be taken either individually or jointly to deal with those threats.
This is a watershed moment in the Australia Indonesia relationship. This treaty represents a major extension of our existing security and defence cooperation. It shows the relationship is as strong as it has ever been, and that's a great thing for our region and for the people of both Australia and Indonesia.
I hope to travel to Indonesia in January next year, at the President's invitation, to formally sign the new treaty after it has gone through our domestic processes.
I now hand to the President for his remarks.
PRABOWO SUBIANTO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
