RI, China to boost cooperation<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to meet Chinese
\nPresident Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic
\nCooperation (APEC) Summit in Santiago, Chile, later this month to
\ndiscuss mutual cooperation in various fields, especially
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday
\nthat Chinese State Councilor Tan Jiaxuan conveyed President Hu's
\nrequest for bilateral talks during his meeting with Susilo.<\/p>\n
\"There are various strategic issues that we can discuss in the
\nplanned meeting in Chile, including cooperation in the military
\nindustry,\" Hassan said, after accompanying Susilo in the meeting.<\/p>\n
Tan is the most senior Chinese official that has met Susilo
\nsince the latter took office on Oct. 20.<\/p>\n
Hassan said military cooperation between the two countries had
\nbeen discussed while Susilo was the coordinating minister for
\npolitical and security affairs in the previous government. As a
\nminister, Susilo visited China early this year.<\/p>\n
\"The Chinese government has agreed to support Indonesia in
\nrenewing its military equipment and to build a military industry
\nhere,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Susilo is also expected to meet Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on
\nthe sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations
\n(ASEAN) Summit in Vientienne before the APEC meeting.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, under former president Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\ndesperately sought other sources of military equipment as a
\nresult of an embargo imposed by the United States following the
\n1999 atrocities in East Timor that implicated the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI). No TNI officers brought to trial for the mayhem
\nwere found guilty either by the ad hoc human rights tribunal or
\nthe higher court.<\/p>\n
The shooting incident at employees of the American-based
\nmining company in Papua in August 2002 had provided more reason
\nfor the U.S. to maintain the embargo. The U.S. has been involved
\nin the investigation of the case.<\/p>\n
During Megawati's tenure, Indonesia bought military equipment
\nfrom Russia and other Eastern European countries.<\/p>\n
Hassan said that Indonesia needed to renew its military
\nequipment and China, which has grown as a major arms supplier,
\ncould fulfill Indonesia's demand.<\/p>\n
Aside from military cooperation, China also intends to
\nincrease mutual cooperation with Indonesia in other fields, such
\nas energy, fisheries and agriculture.<\/p>\n
\"The Chinese special envoy also confirmed the attendance of
\nChinese President Hu in the Asia-Africa Summit in April 2005 in
\nBandung, and invited President Susilo to visit China early next
\nyear,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia severed its diplomatic ties with the communist state
\nfollowing an abortive coup attempt blamed on the Indonesian
\nCommunist Party in 1965. The relation was restored in 1990.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-china-to-boost-cooperation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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