Indonesia and Qatar eye defense cooperation agreement, minister says

Indonesia and Qatar have expressed an intent to sign a defence cooperation agreement as both countries seek to boost defence capacity and cooperation, officials said on Tuesday.

Here are some details:

Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin met his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The ministers signed a memorandum of understanding, Sjafrie said.

"Although we are still in the process of formulating a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), today we will be signing an agreement leading up to the DCA," Sjafrie told reporters.

Both ministries also signed other agreements to hold joint military training and education, as well as agreements related to the defence industry, Sjafrie said without giving further details.

"Relationship between Indonesia and Qatar is very strategic, especially in defence sector... We look forward for further cooperation between our two countries," the Qatari minister said.

The cooperation will involve army and navy personnel from both countries, the Indonesian Defence Ministry said.

-Ananda Teresia/Reuters