Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met in Beijing Wednesday with visiting Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono.

 

Wu said China and Indonesia were neighbors and had traditional friendship, and that Indonesia is the first nation in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to establish a strategic partnership with China.

 

As developing countries, China and Indonesia are facing the common task of improving economy and people's living standard as well as safeguarding world peace, he said.

 

"China attaches importance to the relations with Indonesia, and will make joint effort with Indonesia to push forward the strategic partnership," he said.

 

Wu said defense cooperation between China and Indonesia has injected new life into bilateral relations and played a positive role promoting regional peace and stability.

 

Juwono said China's development would benefit southeast Asia, Asia and the world, and that Indonesia is in favor of China playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs.

 

He said Indonesia will continue adhering to the one-China policy.

 

Juwono and Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan signed an agreement on defense cooperation Wednesday morning.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2007)