The Governments of Liberia and Indonesia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of a joint commission for bilateral cooperation.

The agreement followed a bilateral meeting between President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held in Monrovia Thursday.

The commission seeks to facilitate consultation and cooperation between the two countries in various fields including economic, trade, cultural, tourism, financial, technology, agriculture and other technical sectors.

The two leaders have expressed satisfaction over the steady growth of friendly relations and cooperation that exist between their two countries and promised to further strengthen the ties.

Presidents Sirleaf and Yudhoyono also expressed interests in working together in promoting the new Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership to enhance and intensify bilateral trade and Investment Corporation.

They also acknowledged the trend of positive bilateral trade by 17% in the last two years between the two countries, especially in Liberia by Indonesian companies.

The leaders agreed to further enhance economic cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies of both countries working together to open widows of opportunities for intensified trade and investment.

According to the MOU, the commission shall be headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or senior officials representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries and agencies of government.