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)