REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has bestowed the Adipurna award on Philippines President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in recognition of his remarkable services in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

"The award is the highest honorary recognition that the Indonesian government has bestowed on a foreign national," President Yudhoyono said before conferring the award on his Philippines counterpart on the sidelines of the 7th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) here Friday.

Yudhoyono said the Philippines president deserved the award for his remarkable services in promoting bilateral ties between the two nations.

"His commitment to promoting bilateral cooperation has created lots of opportunities," he said adding trade between the two countries increased 10.9 percent in the past five years.

He believed that bilateral cooperation would further increase in the years to come.

The Indonesian leader further praised President Aquino for settling the border issues between the two countries peacefully.

On a global scale, Yudhoyono said both countries had actively cooperated at various regional and international forums, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Indonesia is waiting for the Philippines to further increase cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN community," he said.

In reply, President Aquino said the award was the recognition of the ever increasing strong relations between the two countries.

The award was also a respect for and recognition of the unlimited partnership between the two nations to serve the common interests of the peoples of the two countries, he said.

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