Foreign and Military Affairs

Wen's visit to Indonesia to boost bilateral ties

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-21 21:01

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to Indonesia will boost the countries' bilateral strategic partnership and economic cooperation, a senior Chinese official said Thursday.

Wen is due in Indonesia from April 29 to 30, during the second leg of his southeast Asian trip, which also includes stops in Malaysia, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue said at a news briefing.

During his first official visit to Indonesia, Wen will hold talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, meet with other Indonesian leaders, attend an economic forum and give a policy speech, Hu said.

Wen will have an in-depth exchange with Indonesian leaders on maintaining frequent high-level communication, boosting cooperation in economic, defense, maritime, cultural, international and regional affairs, Hu said.

Hu also said China will promote relations with ASEAN, as Indonesia is currently serving as the organization's rotating Chair.

Song Yaoming, Deputy Director of the Asian Affairs Department of the Commerce Ministry, said China and Indonesia are expected to increase trade volume, further develop the China-ASEAN free trade area and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in infrastructure.

Song said a number of cooperation documents will be signed, including a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries' foreign ministries and other papers covering a wide range of areas, including industrial technology, language teaching, tourism, banking and palm planting.

Both sides are now in consultations to issue a joint statement and other documents, Hu said.

China and Indonesia established a strategic partnership in 2005 and achieved bilateral trade volume of $42.75 billion in 2010.

China also offers Indonesia preferential buyer's credit for their cooperation in infrastructure. The Suramadu Bridge, a joint project for the two countries, was completed in 2009 and connects Indonesia's East Java Province and Madura Island.