JAKARTA, Dec 18 — Cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crimes is among three memoranda of understanding (MoU) to be signed by Malaysia and Indonesia when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meet at the annual consultation, here tomorrow.

Najib and Susilo will also witness signing of the MOU on Student Pass or Visa for Higher Education and signing of the MoU on Youth and Sports Cooperation.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the two leaders will also discuss the haze, border, regional and international issues.

“At the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Commission meeting in Jakarta on December 2, the foreign ministers of both countries agreed to optimise the strong ties at government level.

“We want to find ways so that more connectivity can be developed to bring Malaysia-Indonesia cooperation to a new dimension,” he told a press conference, here today.

Zahrain said the Malaysia-Indonesia annual consultation, here tomorrow is the fourth between Najib and Susilo since 2010.

The consultation gives them the opportunity to discuss, exchange views and experiences and to find the best way to further strengthen ties.

“Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral ties have been very good in recent years. This include ties between governments, business communities and the people.”

In 2012, Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral trade recorded US$19 billion (RM60 billion).

Malaysia is the seventh largest export country and the fourth largest import country for Indonesia.

Malaysia-Indonesia total trade for January-October 2013 was at US$16.22 billion, up 2.8 per cent from the US$15.77 billion in 2012. — Bernama