President Hu Jintao
and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a joint
statement in Jakarta on Monday proclaiming the two to be strategic
partners.
"
China and Indonesia are friendly neighbors, and we will work
together to seek opportunities to deepen strategic relations, and
for a rational and just new political and economic order in the
world," Hu said.
Hu, on a continued state visit after attending the Asian-African
Summit and 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, said the
statement marked a new stage in the two countries' relationship and
will exert an important influence on China-ASEAN ties.
Susilo accepted Hu's invitation to visit China in the latter
half of the year and the two agreed to establish a vice-premier
level dialogue mechanism to enhance strategic consultation.
They also agreed to expand economic cooperation and trade,
aiming to increase annual trade volume to US$20 billion within
three years. It was US$13.48 billion last year, up 31 percent on
the year before. China and
Indonesia have also cooperated on a number of major projects
involving energy and infrastructure construction.
Hu said they would enhance cooperation on building
infrastructure, energy, agriculture, fishing and development of
natural resources.
China will provide 30 million yuan (US$3.63 million) of
assistance to Indonesia, and another US$300 million in preferential
loans for construction of infrastructure and reconstruction of
disaster-hit areas. China had previously pledged US$400 million in
preferential loans.
In addition, China is providing US$20 million worth of
assistance, in money and goods, for disaster-relief in
earthquake-hit areas. Part of this was delivered on Hu's plane.
Shortly after the strong earthquake last month, China announced
US$500,000 in assistance for disaster relief.
Susilo described Hu's visit as a "milestone" in bilateral
relations that has encouraged Asian-African cooperation and had a
positive impact on regional peace and cooperation.
China and Indonesia signed eight other documents on the same day,
covering visa exemption, maritime cooperation, infrastructure
building and natural resource development, cooperation on
earthquake and tsunami research, in treasury, between Red Cross
societies and agreements on preferential loans.
They also agreed that China will establish a consulate-general
in Surabaya, on the Indonesian island of Java, and Indonesia a
consulate-general in Shanghai.
(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2005)
