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People-to-people contact key to RI-China relations, says SBY
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that people-to-people contact between Indonesia and China is one of main ways to strengthen relations between the two countries
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resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that people-to-people contact between Indonesia and China is one of main ways to strengthen relations between the two countries.
'The relationship between Indonesia and China has been running very well. Particularly since the signing of the Indonesia-China strategic partnership agreement in 2005, in which our relations were later increased to become comprehensive strategic partners in 2013,' he said as quoted by Antara, during his general lecture at the University of Tsinghua in Beijing, China, on Sunday.
Yudhoyono said the revival of China as the second largest economic power in the world, which was supported by a strong military force, had led China to become the most influential country in the Asia-Pacific. It seemed that all countries, including Indonesia, depended on and wanted to partner with China, said the sixth Indonesian president.
'The coverage of cooperation between the two countries is getting deeper and wider, including in the field of education. More Indonesian school and university students are becoming attracted to the idea of studying in China. This shows Indonesia's interest to learn more from and to cooperate with China,' said Yudhoyono.
For Indonesia, he said, cooperation with China had brought positive results, especially in supporting Indonesia's economic growth which eventually led to improved prosperity for the Indonesian people.
'Indonesian and Chinese relations are becoming important in which the two countries need each other and supplement each other. Many opportunities for cooperation can be built and increased further by the two countries, such as in energy, agriculture and many more,' said the former President.
He said cultural and educational cooperation, including exchanges between Indonesian and Chinese students, had also become fields that could continue to develop in the future.
'The exchanges will increase understanding between people in the two countries, which will eventually strengthen their relations in the future,' said Yudhoyono, who received a doctorate honoris causa from the University of Tsinghua in 2012. (ebf) (++++)
