Relations between Indonesia and China have been developing steadily which have also promoted regional peace and prosperity, said Indonesia Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda.
"The declaration on strategic partnership signed by our leaders during the visit of President Hu Jintao to Indonesia in April 2005 provides a roadmap on how Indonesia and China to expand and deepen our bilateral relations," said Hassan Wirayuda in an exclusive interview with Xinhua at his office here on Tuesday.
"There are quite a lot number of areas that we have agreed to work together. With various mechanisms, we agreed to promote political cooperation, trade, people-to-people contact," he said.
He emphasized the importance of people-to-people contact, such as exchange of students, for better understanding.
"We should actively develop programs for our people to know each other better," the minister said.
Wirayuda recalled Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's visit to Indonesia in July. He said, the government of Indonesia appreciates that Yang gave priority to Indonesia, as among the first countries that he visited since he was appointed as foreign minister.
He said, "For me it was the first opportunity to meet and exchange views with Minister Yang. We had very open and frank discussions."
On the trade relations with China, Wirayuda said, "What was important is understanding the degree and the intensity of bilateral relations between Indonesia and China. We have a mechanism to settle problems, namely under the bilateral commission of Indonesia and China, we have a sub-committee to deal with trade disputes."
"Rather than making it a political issue, let's settle this nicely at the sub-committee level. It should not disturb the existing excellent relations that Indonesia and China have been engaged," he added.
Talking about the Taiwan authority's attempt to join UN recently, Wirayuda said, "We have consistently exercised the 'one China' policy, meaning that Indonesia has only recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) and develop and maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing in this regard."
He stressed that "Indonesia fully respects the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of PRC over Taiwan. Taiwan attempted at different forum, last time with the United Nations. But we know that it would not be successful."
On the regional development, the Indonesian foreign minister said, "ASEAN countries as well as China can benefit from working together."
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China can contribute to a larger environment -- East Asia, the Asia- Pacific, "for our joint endeavor to create a region of peace, security and prosperity," said the foreign minister.
Source: Xinhua
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