KABUL - President Hamid Karzai has signed a number of agreements with Indonesia related to political, trade, and cultural cooperation in a bid to enhance ties between the two nations.

Karzai and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met on Friday and signed documents of "friendship and cooperation" including "visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports and on bilateral consultations as well as on cultural exchange programs", a statement from Karzai's office said late Friday.

Karzai, who was in Indonesia this week to attend the 5th Bali Democracy Forum, called Indonesia an old friend and applauded its efforts toward promoting democracy in the world.

"Afghanistan is doing all it can to participate in the initiative Indonesia has launched as the biggest Muslim country to promote democracy," Karzai said, according to the press statement.

The Indonesian President said the meeting aimed to improve the relationship for the two countries for the near future.

"The bilateral meeting we conducted was very productive. We discussed cooperation that is currently undergoing and more importantly we discussed how to enhance the cooperation in the field of economics, education and culture and other fields," Bambang Yudhoyono said.

On Thursday, Karzai addressed the forum attended by 11 nations with a stinging criticism of the structure of the United Nations Security Council as undemocratic because of the veto power of only five permanent members.

"The Security Council does not represent all of us," Karzai told the forum.

Bambang Yudhoyono acknowledged Karzai's speech in his comments of Friday.

""I just wish to thank President Karzai for the speech he delivered yesterday, it was very important and had strong messages to the world on the importance of values and principles of democracy to be implemented throughout the world," he said, according to the Karzai press office.

Karzai left Indonesia on Friday and landed in Mumbai to begin his four-day visit to India. (Tolo News)