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China calls for 'new maritime silk road' partnership with RI
Chinese President Xi Jinping will push for closer trade and maritime cooperation with Indonesia under the establishment of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a reference to the ancient trade and cultural route between China and other parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East
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hinese President Xi Jinping will push for closer trade and maritime cooperation with Indonesia under the establishment of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a reference to the ancient trade and cultural route between China and other parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Only weeks after the inauguration of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, Xi has sent his foreign minister Wang Yi to Jakarta to discuss bilateral and regional issues.
The Chinese foreign minister is scheduled to meet with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno LP Marsudi, at the Pancasila Building in Pejambon, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
The Chinese embassy's head of press and public affairs, Zhang Yongchao, said that the two chief diplomats would discuss an array of topics including the forthcoming visit of President Jokowi to Beijing to attend the APEC summit and to meet with Xi.
'They may touch upon important bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest with the aim of further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the new circumstances,' Zhang told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
After Jokowi's inauguration, Xi congratulated the newly sworn-in President on his assumption of office.
During the telephone conversation, Xi said that strengthening comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries conformed to the common interests of both and was also conducive to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.
'I am hoping to establish a good working relationship with you, jointly promote bilateral exchange and cooperation, push forward the establishment of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and promote continued progress in the China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership to realize mutual benefit, a win-win situation and common development,' Xi added as quoted by The China Daily.
Jokowi replied that to advance Indonesia's comprehensive strategic partnership with China was very important to both countries, to Asia and to the whole world.
He also stressed his desire to enhance friendly cooperation between the two countries.
The new Indonesian president said he was looking forward to going to China to attend the APEC informal leaders' meeting and hold talks with President Xi to boost cooperation between the two countries.
Illustrating his plan with the historical reference, Xi aims to boost both trade and maritime cooperation as well as shore up support for China's controversial territorial claims in the South China Sea. The phrase was first mentioned by Xi during his state visit to Jakarta in October 2013 while speaking of the 'shared destiny' of China and Southeast Asia.
Trade between China and ASEAN increased more than 10 percent last year to US$444 billion.
