Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Sunday in Beijing that China
will offer US$400 million of preferential loans to Indonesia to
promote bilateral cooperation and support Indonesia's economic
development.
Jiang made the announcement during talks with Indonesian President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, who arrived in Beijing Sunday afternoon on
a five-day state visit. This is Megawati's first visit to China
since becoming President.
Jiang made a four-point proposal on boosting China-Indonesia
relations: maintaining top-level contacts and exchange; expanding
trade and economic cooperation; expanding cooperation in culture,
education and tourism sectors; and strengthening cooperation in the
international arena.
Jiang said Indonesia, like China, was a nation with many minority
groups. The unity among different ethnic groups was vital to the
country's stability and development.
Jiang noted that Megawati herself and the Indonesian government
have made efforts to improve the conditions of ethnic Chinese in
Indonesia, and China was appreciative of those efforts.
"China sincerely hopes that all minority groups in Indonesia can
live harmoniously, and ethnic Chinese can merge in local society
and make new contributions to the economic prosperity and social
progress of Indonesia," Jiang said.
Jiang, who met Megawati last year in Shanghai during APEC meetings,
said Megawati's father, President Sukarno, established a close
friendship with former Chinese leaders, and laid a solid foundation
for China-Indonesia relations. The current visit by Megawati and a
large delegation showed that Megawati herself paid great attention
to developing bilateral relations with China.
China was satisfied with the good development momentum of bilateral
relations, Jiang said, adding that it was a set policy of China to
pursue long-term stable and friendly relations with Indonesia.
Megawati said she agreed with Jiang's four-point proposal. She said
she admired the economic achievement of China over the years,
adding that relations between Indonesia and China had great
potential to grow.
The Indonesian president thanked China for its assistance and
support, saying it showed China's sincere wish to develop bilateral
relations.
She said her country's economy was evidently recovering, and she
very much hoped to have understanding and support from China and
other friendly nations.
Megawati said Indonesia was proud of the "Asia-Africa Spirit" that
former Indonesian and Chinese leaders jointly created. Indonesia
was ready to strengthen cooperation and coordination with China on
international and regional issues, and make joint efforts for a
new, better world order.
Following the talks, the two presidents presided over the signing
of an agreement on Indonesia's establishment of consulates general
in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and four other memorandums of
understanding on economic and technological cooperation.
(Xinhua News
Agency March 25, 2002)