China and Indonesia signed series of memoranda of understanding and agreements in Beijing yesterday aiming to boost defense, economic and cultural cooperation and to help rebuild areas affected by December's earthquake-triggered tsunami.

President Hu Jintao and his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono were present at the signing ceremony after their talks in the Great Hall of the People.

Included were a memorandum of understanding on research and development in defense technological cooperation, and one on reconstruction projects in tsunami-hit areas funded by non-governmental Chinese donations.

There was also an agreement on grant assistance for economic and technical cooperation, a general loan agreement of US$100 million preferential buyer's credit and an arrangement concerning Chinese language teaching.

Premier Wen Jiabao also held talks with Susilo earlier on Thursday, saying China would maintain its long-term friendship with Indonesia for their common development and to contribute to regional prosperity and stability.

He said he appreciated the Indonesian government's adherence to a "one-China" policy, adding that China will, as before, support Indonesia's efforts to maintain national unity and stability.

Susilo arrived on Wednesday afternoon for a four-day visit, his first since taking office last October.

Besides the capital, Susilo and his 100-member delegation will also travel to the special economic zone of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2005)