China expresses satisfaction over ties with Indonesia

China expresses satisfaction over ties with Indonesia

Xinhua, Beijing

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on Friday expressed satisfaction over
the friendly relationship between China and Indonesia which has
developed in the past few years.

Speaking before a delegation of Indonesian ministers, Zhu
Rongji said China-Indonesia relations have been developing
smoothly in recent years.

"Exchanges and co-operation in the fields of politics,
economics, trade and culture have been expanding consistently,"
he noted.

The entourage sent by President Megawati Soekarnoputri
included Megawati's husband Taufiq Kiemas, Minister of Energy and
Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Industry and
Trade Rini Soewandi, Minister of Resettlement and Regional
Infrastructure Soenarno, Minister of Maritime Affairs and
Fisheries Rokhmin Dahuri and State Minister for State Enterprises
Laksamana Sukardi.

The prime minister also recalled President Jiang Zemin's
meeting with Megawati at the Shanghai meetings of Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in October.

Zhu said he appreciated the warm welcome he received during
his visit to Indonesia last month.

"You have come here to implement the agreements reached by
Jiang and Megawati on furthering bilateral cooperation," Zhu
said.

He added that the visit showed that the Indonesian government
values the development of bilateral relations between the two
countries.

Zhu said China has a positive attitude toward cooperation with
Indonesia, expressing the hope that the two countries would
carefully study the profitability and feasibility of any joint
projects.

Taufiq said that he had been entrusted by Megawati to express
his country's strong willingness to develop relations with China.

A top Indonesian trade delegate was happy with a handful of
potential deals exploring business opportunities, including
banking and energy, after talks with Premier Zhu Rongji.

Rini said in Beijing that the Bank of China, one of the four
commercial banks in China, is expected to reopen a branch in
Jakarta next year, to handle increasing trade demands between the
two countries.

She said the branch was closed in the 1960s because of "fewer
and fewer business transactions" after the fall of Soekarno.

"Zhu said he would send a Chinese team to Jakarta next January
to finalize the document," the minister was quoted as saying.

Also next January, a Chinese energy delegation is scheduled to
visit Indonesia to discuss the possibilities for Chinese
companies to invest in the Indonesian energy industry, she added.

Purnomo, meanwhile, said that Indonesia was considering buying
Chinese oil tankers in an attempt to give it bargaining power in
bidding for a US$10 billion gas supply contract for China's first
liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

He refused to reveal the details, but earlier reports have
said the Indonesian side hopes to buy 20 large oil tankers from
China, worth millions of US dollars.

Earlier last month, China invited seven potential suppliers
from Australia, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia and
Yemen to compete in supplying three million tons of LNG to
Guangdong Province annually for at least 20 years.

Purnomo said they are still discussing with China National
Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), the major Chinese backer of the
project, further exploration and development of gas fields in
Indonesia.

"If we come out on top in the bidding, they (CNOOC) would get
more (opportunities)," said Purnomo.

Indonesian Tangguh LNG, a 50-50 project owned by Pertamina
(Indonesian State Oil & Gas Mining Company) and BP, submitted the
bid on Tuesday.

"We assure you that our price will be very competitive. We can
also guarantee the safety of the long-term supply, which is very
important for such a consumer as China," said Purnomo.