China pushes for business and cultural cooperation with RI

Desy Nurhayati, The Jakarta Post, Ubud, Bali | Mon, 09/20/2010 10:22 AM

China is looking forward to developing new areas of cooperation with Indonesia as the two countries celebrate their 60th anniversary of bilateral relations this year.

Fields of cooperation worthy of further development include trade and investment and tourism and culture, delegation chief Cai Jinbiao said during the group’s visit to Ubud on Saturday.

The delegation came to Indonesia to attend a public seminar “Indonesia and China after 60 years of diplomatic relations” to be held in Jakarta this Monday when scholars will engage in intense discussion of new ideas to promote bilateral bonds.

Delegates from China include representatives from the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, while the Indonesian counterparts are scholars from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Jinbiao, the vice president of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, told The Jakarta Post that in the past 60 years, especially after China applied its openness policy, the bilateral relationship had been developing by leaps and bounds through various forms of partnership.

“We have reached the stage where our relationship could be promoted to an even higher level.

The scope of our trade and investment relationships is widening. I am confident that there will be more investment in the future,” he said.

Both countries expect to achieve US$30 billion in trade in 2010 and $50 billion in 2014.

The two countries have also established strategic cultural partnerships nurtured by exchange visits.

Regarding tourism, Indonesia has become a destination for many Chinese travelers, Jinbiao added. “There is a growing number of Chinese tourists coming here, and we’d like to see more. We also welcome Indonesian tourists to visit our country,” he said.

Advancing bilateral relations not only serves the interests of both nations, but also promotes relations between China and ASEAN, and broader development across the region, he said, acknowledging that Indonesia has played a very important role in the regional grouping.

With the FTA between China and ASEAN set for implementation this year, both parties have explored the benefits of declining import tax rates and increased trade volumes, Jinbiao said.

Year-on-year trade between China and ASEAN increased 49.6 percent in the first seven months of this year, reaching US$161 billion, with ASEAN enjoying a $7.54 billion surplus.