RI sends condolences over Deng's passing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto expressed yesterday his
\ndeepest condolences on behalf of the Indonesian nation at Deng
\nXiaoping's death, and hoped China's current leaders would
\ncontinue the prudent domestic and international policies laid
\ndown by the late Chinese leader.<\/p>\n
The message of condolence was conveyed yesterday by
\nMinister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, accompanying Soeharto on a
\nvisit to Laos yesterday.<\/p>\n
The President believed the policies laid down by Deng would be
\ncontinued by China's leaders, Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
An Indonesian foreign ministry statement here yesterday said
\nSoeharto hoped the Chinese government would continue to provide a
\npositive contribution towards the establishment of global peace
\nand prosperity.<\/p>\n
Diplomatic ties between Jakarta and Beijing were revived in
\n1990, after a 22-year break following suspicions by Jakarta of
\nBeijing's involvement in the 1965 aborted coup.<\/p>\n
The New Order government under Soeharto that rose to power
\nafter crushing the Communist coup suspended relations in 1967 and
\ncut all direct trade links with China.<\/p>\n
Relations were normalized in August 1990 with the visit of
\nChinese Premier Li Peng to Jakarta. Ties were reaffirmed further
\nwhen Soeharto travelled to Beijing in November of the same year.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian foreign ministry statement yesterday said
\nJakarta would send \"the highest level delegation possible\" to
\nDeng's funeral if such a ceremony is held by Chinese authorities.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was taken by surprise at the news and directed
\nministers send a cable expressing his condolence.<\/p>\n
News of Deng's death was broken by Moerdiono and Indonesian
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas.<\/p>\n
Outlook<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, observers expected no major change in China's
\neconomic and political outlook.<\/p>\n
While interpreting no drastic domestic change inside the
\ncountry, international affairs analyst Jusuf Wanandi said the
\napproaching Communist Party congress could prove a telling time
\nin the post-Deng period.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think there will be any significant change until the
\nCommunist Party congress at the end of the year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jusuf said Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng
\nhad consolidated their power base and were now in a strong
\nposition.<\/p>\n
\"For the time being it will be lead by a collective
\nleadership. But a new leader will likely appear and it could very
\nwell be Jiang Zemin since he has consolidated his support for
\nsome time,\" Jusuf said.<\/p>\n
Economist Mari Pangestu said Deng's demise would, at the most,
\ncause a brief turbulence in the stock exchange and financial
\nmarkets.<\/p>\n
She pointed out the Chinese leadership had prepared themselves
\nwell for this eventuality.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think there will be any major upheaval. There could
\nbe a minor power struggle, but the direction (of policies) will
\nstill be economic reform,\" Mari said.<\/p>\n
\"China will still be our (economic) competitor,\" she remarked.<\/p>\n
Business tycoon Sofyan Wanandi, chairman of the Gemala Group,
\nexpressed similar sentiments.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe in the short term there will be some psychological
\nuncertainties for the next two or three months,\" Sofyan said.<\/p>\n
He said there was no reason for China to divert from its
\ncurrent course of economic reform and would continue to
\nliberalize its market.<\/p>\n
\"They will continue to try very hard to be a leading world
\nplayer, both in the economic and political sphere,\" Sofyan
\nsaid. (mds\/rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-sends-condolences-over-dengs-passing-1447893297",
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