Jiang's visit to promote RI-China ties<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chinese President Jiang Zemin returned to
\nJakarta yesterday to mark the beginning of an official two-day
\nvisit to Indonesia to further promote relations.<\/p>\n
Jiang's return reflects the increasingly warm relations
\nbetween the two countries after the freezing of ties for over two
\ndecades.<\/p>\n
\"Your excellency's visit reflects the close friendship and
\ncooperation between the two nations,\" Indonesia's President
\nSoeharto told the Chinese leader during a dinner held in his
\nhonor at the State Palace last night.<\/p>\n
\"The atmosphere of mutual trust, friendship and cooperation
\nwill be the strength of our future relationship,\" Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
The important regional role of China was highlighted by
\nSoeharto when he remarked that close ties between the two
\ncountries have contributed to the establishment of a dynamic
\nregion.<\/p>\n
Soeharto also noted China's stance on the Korean peninsula
\nand the dispute in the South China Sea, pointing out Beijing's
\nrestraint as an important ingredient to regional peace.<\/p>\n
Bogor<\/p>\n
The Chinese president initially arrived here from Malaysia
\non Sunday to attend Tuesday's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
\n(APEC) leaders' meeting in Bogor.<\/p>\n
The Bogor meeting was attended by 16 heads of state and
\ngovernment and two high level government representatives, one
\nfrom Hong Kong and one from Taiwan. It yielded a declaration
\ncommitting member countries to comprehensive trade liberalization
\nno later than 2020.<\/p>\n
APEC, set up in 1989, groups Australia, Brunei, Canada,
\nChile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
\nMexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.<\/p>\n
After the meeting in Bogor, Jiang left the next day for
\nYogyakarta and continued for a brief stay on the holiday resort
\nisland of Bali.<\/p>\n
Of his trip to Yogyakarta and Bali, Jiang expressed his joy
\nat being able to see the renowned Buddhist temple of Borobudur.
\nHe also stated that he was awed at the perseverance of the
\nBalinese people in their traditions.<\/p>\n
Jiang touched down back in Jakarta at Halim Perdanakusumah
\nairbase, where he was met by Indonesian Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas, yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n
He was immediately taken to Merdeka Palace and given a
\nformal welcome by President Soeharto, Vice President Try Sutrisno
\nand a number of Indonesian cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono said Jiang
\nZemin conveyed his appreciation at Soeharto's successful hosting
\nof the APEC summit.<\/p>\n
\"President Jiang expressed his belief that his statement
\nrepresented the view of all the APEC economic leaders,\" Moerdiono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
During yesterday's dinner, Soeharto said he regarded the
\nresults of the Bogor meeting as \"preparing a better future for
\nour children and grandchildren\".<\/p>\n
This morning Jiang will hold bilateral talks with Soeharto,
\nduring which the main focus is expected to be the further
\nenhancement of the newly re-established ties between the two
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia broke relations with the world's most heavily
\npopulated country in the late 1960's after accusing Beijing of
\nhelping the Indonesian communists in a coup attempt in 1965.
\nChina denied any involvement in the abortive coup.<\/p>\n
Despite the recommencement of trade relations in the mid-
\n1980's, it was not until 1990, after assurances from China that
\nit would not try to export its communist revolution here, that
\nJakarta and Beijing resumed normal diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n
Normalization of relations was signified by the arrival of
\nChinese Prime Minister Li Peng in August 1990. This was followed
\nby Soeharto's visit to China three months later.<\/p>\n
Jiang is only the second Chinese president to visit
\nIndonesia, after then president Yang Shangkun's trip here in
\n1991.<\/p>\n
Later today Jiang will attend a gathering of the Chinese
\ncommunity living in Jakarta. A dinner hosted by the Indonesian
\nChamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) will be held in his
\nhonor this evening.<\/p>\n
Jiang is to leave for Vietnam tomorrow afternoon. (mds)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jiangs-visit-to-promote-ri-china-ties-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }