TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- The Governments of Indonesia and El Salvador agreed on Visa Exemption Agreement for holders of diplomatic passports and official passports to further encourage cooperation between the two countries, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, August 23.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, Hugo Roger Martinez Bonilla, on the sidelines of the Ministerial Conference on East Asia and Latin America Cooperation Forum (PTM FEALAC), in San Jose, Costa Rica, on August 21, 2015.

Marsudi said the signing of a visa-free agreement that will encourage mutual visits by citizens of both countries, which in turn can boost trade and investment cooperation.

Previously, the two governments have signed a memorandum of understanding on the formation of Indonesia-El Salvador Bilateral Consultation Forum in 2013.

Bonilla expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations.

El Salvador and Indonesia has recently opened diplomatic relations in September 2011, and within four years the two countries have had two significant agreements boost bilateral relations.

"I am confident about the future of bilateral relations between the two countries is increasing in a variety of fields,” said Bonilla.

ANTARA