Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stressed that any acts of discrimination against the Chinese-Indonesians must be stopped, local media reported.

Speaking before some 4,500 people in a gathering on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Chinese New Year here, the president reassured the public that Chinese-Indonesians were legally recognized and guaranteed by the state, the Jakarta Post daily reported on Sunday.

Despite the state recognition of Chinese-Indonesians, officials at the lower bureaucratic levels and common people were still adjusting to the changes, he said.

"This is a sociological phase that requires time and hard work on the part of the government and collective goodwill," the president said.

Meanwhile, Susilo also called on the Chinese-Indonesians to work together to integrate and to close the existing gap with other members of society.

This year's celebration of the Chinese New Year known as Imlek, which fell on Jan. 29, was the seventh after former president Abdurrahman Wahid rescinded Presidential Instruction No. 14/1967 in 2000 that banned such an event from being openly celebrated. Abdurrahman's successor Magawati Soekarnoputri followed suit by declaring the Chinese New Year a national holiday.

Source: Xinhua