Indonesia and Australia have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense field based on mutual trust to create a regional stability, ANTARA reported. The two countries agreed to intensify exchanges of visit between both nations` defense ministry officials, to promote mutual trust, Brig. Gen. Marciano Norman, Strategic Environment Analysis Director of the Indonesian Defense Ministry`s Defense Strategy Director General, said here on Monday, after receiving Brig. Gen. Tim Hana, head of the Australian Army Senior Officer Development Program (SODP) team. As good neighboring countries, it would be normal for Indonesia and Australia to intensify cooperation in various fields, including in the defense field, he said. Sound relations between Indonesia and Australia would contribute to a regional stability, he said. The two countries could exist peacefully as neighboring countries and support each other without having any suspicion, he said. In the meeting, according to Norman, Tim Hana praised the reform process in the Indonesian Military (TNI), which has been implemented as expected and could have very positive impact to the world.
