Jakarta/Canberra, March 9, 2010 - Nowhere is this work together more apparent than Australia and Indonesia's close cooperation in addressing the worst global economic crisis since the great depression. We worked as one through the world's premier global forum, the G20, to avert the collapse of the global economy last year. The Asia-Pacific will be a key driver of global recovery and we are committed to ensuring a strong regional voice in global economic decision making through the G20.

Both of our countries have committed to significant emissions reduction targets and actions. We worked hard together at the end of last year to help deliver the Copenhagen Accord, where for the first time, developed and developing countries have combined under one framework to address the challenges of climate change. We remain strongly committed to achieving a comprehensive and ambitious international agreement on climate change.

The Asia-Pacific century promises great hope but also immense challenge for our neighborhood, as global economic and strategic weight shifts to our region. Australia and Indonesia are working closely to secure the benefits this shift will bring, but also to manage the inevitable challenges that shall arise from time to time with such change. Through regional institutions like the East Asia Summit, APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum we are promoting regional economic integration for greater regional prosperity, and developing norms of cooperation and confidence building to bolster regional security.

As co-chairs of the Bali process, we are pursuing a far-reaching regional response to the problem of people smuggling and irregular migration.

Australia and Indonesia will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder in combating the scourge of terrorism. Our law enforcement agencies are cooperating closely together to defeat terrorism in the region, including through the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation, which is an important regional asset for counter terrorism capacity-building.

We will not let each other down in times of trouble. together we are leading efforts to bolster the region's responsiveness and resilience towards natural disasters. The jointly-established Australia Indonesia Disaster Reduction Facility is now operational and will support regional efforts to promote risk reduction and improve disaster management.

Australia and Indonesia have come a long way in recent years. As leaders, we are dedicated to shaping new era in Australia-Indonesian relations, based on shared values, common interest, equal partnership and mutual benefit. We look forward to further solidifying our vital relationship, expanding it into new areas, and promoting a strategic partnership that will continue to contribute to regional stability and prosperity in the years ahead.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Kevin Rudd wrote for The Jakarta Post.