Govt asked to make trade with China easier<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian-Chinese Economic,
\nSocial and Cultural Cooperation asked the Indonesian government
\non Monday to remove the cultural and political barriers hindering
\nbilateral trade relations with China.<\/p>\n
The association's chairman, Sukamdani, said the Indonesian
\ngovernment should change its traditional stance of opposing the
\nuse of Chinese languages by Indonesians of Chinese origin, for
\nthe sake of better trade between the two countries.<\/p>\n
\"I have talked to the related government officials and advised
\nthem to take concrete measures to allow a freer use of Chinese
\nlanguages in Indonesia. And I have had a positive response from
\nthe government,\" Sukamdani told reporters during the gathering
\nwith delegates from the China Council for the Promotion of
\nInternational Trade (CCPIT) at the Sahid Jaya hotel.<\/p>\n
CCPIT's 12 delegates, consisting of government officials and
\nbusiness people from China, are here from last Friday until
\nTuesday to promote trade ties. The group is led by CCPIT vice
\nchairman An Chengxin.<\/p>\n
Sukamdani said the government policy which bans the use of the
\nChinese language is hampering the development of Indonesia's
\ntrade with China.<\/p>\n
The government, through a circular letter issued by the
\ninformation ministry's Directorate General of Press and Graphics,
\nin 1988 banned publications and advertisements using Chinese
\ncharacters.<\/p>\n
Sukamdani gave two reasons for the importance of Indonesian
\ntrade with China: China is a strong country with economic growth
\nof 7.8 percent in 1998, and China can provide cheap technology
\nfor the development of Indonesia's agricultural industry.<\/p>\n
Sukamdani, however, said the Indonesian government has made
\ngood progress in removing some of the political constraints.<\/p>\n
\"Now the Indonesian Embassy in China can issue visas to people
\nwho want to travel to Indonesia for business, vacation or
\ncultural purposes without having to process it for three months,\"
\nSukamdani said.<\/p>\n
He said the tedious procedure involved in getting a visa to
\nIndonesia was due to the unnecessary checking and screening of
\napplicants, and that this discouraged business travel from China
\nto Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Trade volume between Indonesia and China reached US$4.7
\nbillion in 1997 and $3.6 billion in 1998, despite the economic
\ncrisis. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-asked-to-make-trade-with-china-easier-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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