China is ready to take the establishment of strategic
partnership with Indonesia as a new starting point to substantially
push forward exchanges and cooperation between the two countries,
senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said.
Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks while
meeting with Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla in Jakarta
Monday afternoon.
During the meeting, Jia said in recent years the two countries
have achieved new results in their cooperation. The growth of
two-way trade volume for the past consecutive years and the
inauguration of a number of large-scale projects have brought about
substantial benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Jia expressed the hope that trade and economic cooperation with
Indonesia will be further strengthened so as to promote the
deepening and expansion of bilateral relations.
To achieve this end, Jia suggested that the two countries
further strengthen trade and investment so as to maintain the
current momentum of trade and to achieve, faster than scheduled,
the goal of boosting trade volume to US$20 billion by 2008 and
further to US$30 billion by 2010. He said China would actively
consider the establishment of an investment promotion mechanism and
encourage strong and prestigious Chinese companies to invest in
Indonesia.
Jia suggested that the two countries further strengthen
cooperation on large-scale projects in such fields as electricity,
infrastructure development and water conservancy so as to lift the
general level of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
He also suggested that the two countries expand cooperation in
energy and resources development by accelerating the implementation
of relevant projects and achieve results in their cooperation at
the earliest possible date.
Finally, Jia said the two countries should have closer
coordination and cooperation in regional trade and economic
cooperation. Jia said the two countries should continuously push
forward the process of establishing the China-ASEAN free trade
zone. China will continue to help Indonesia in its reconstruction
of the areas hit by earthquake and tsunami, Jia said. China will
also provide necessary support for Indonesia in the prevention and
controlling of bird flu.
Yusuf said since Indonesia and China established diplomatic
links, bilateral relations have progressed soundly. He expressed
admiration for China's economic development, and said he hoped that
more Chinese companies would come to invest in Indonesia.
Yusuf said both Indonesia and China are developing countries of
great influence in Asia. He said the two countries have their own
specific economic advantages and share bright prospects for
cooperation.
He said Indonesia is ready to carry out all-round collaboration
with China in trade and economy by stepping up cooperative efforts
in such areas as infrastructure development, investment, energy
development and technology. Indonesia is ready to advance the
strategic partnership with China in an all-round way.
He said the two countries should also strengthen cooperation in
education by sending more students to study in the other country.
Educational cooperation will help widen the basis of friendship
between the two countries.
Indonesia is willing to join efforts with China to promote the
deepening of cooperation between ASEAN and China and East Asia
cooperation.
(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2006)
