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China pledges to continue strengthening ties with RI
The Peopleâs Republic of China will continue to maintain strong ties it has forged with Indonesia by fully cooperating with the upcoming Joko "Jokowi" Widodo-Jusuf Kalla government, a top envoy has said on the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic's founding
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T
he People's Republic of China will continue to maintain strong ties it has forged with Indonesia by fully cooperating with the upcoming Joko "Jokowi" Widodo-Jusuf Kalla government, a top envoy has said on the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic's founding.
Praising bilateral relationships between the two countries, recently appointed Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xie Feng said China and Indonesia had contributed much to the peace, stability and prosperity of both nations as they remained good neighbors, friends and economic partners.
'The new government under president-elect Joko Widodo presents a new era for Indonesia as well as new opportunities to strengthen and advance our strategic partnerships,' Xie said at the anniversary event on Tuesday.
Xie, who is the 11th Chinese ambassador to Indonesia and previously handled U.S relations with China, added that during a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indonesia in October 2013, both nations had formed a comprehensive strategic partnership. Xie said China would further develop and strengthen ties for both nations.
The 65th anniversary event was attended by several Indonesian officials including former president BJ Habibie, vice president-elect Kalla, Finance Minister Chatib Basri and Deputy Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama. People's Representative Council (MPR) speaker Sidarto Danusubroto was also present as the guest speaker of the event.
Bilateral relations between Indonesia and the People's Republic of China were officially established in 1950, with Indonesia becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to forge official diplomatic ties with that nation.
Sino-Indonesian relations were suspended in 1967 in the aftermath of the G30S Movement in 1965. Relations began to ease in the 1980s, and the two countries re-established diplomatic relations in 1990, which have been strongly maintained since.
Indonesia has had an embassy in Beijing since 1950, as well as consulates-general in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. China has an embassy in Jakarta along with consulates-general in Surabaya and Medan.
China is the second-largest recipient of Indonesian exports after Japan, and is also the largest source of imports to Indonesia. In 2013, the total trade balance between the two countries amounted to U$52,450,952, while the bilateral trade balance from January to June 2014 was $24,522,390.
Both China and Indonesia have set an $80 billion trade target between the two countries by 2015. (dyl/ebf)
