China has show room

JAKARTA (JP): The Chinese Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding for the opening of a permanent showroom aimed at promoting trade and investment ties between Indonesia and China.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the committee will cooperate with PT Jakarta International Trade Fair Corporation (JITC) on the establishment of a 280-square-meter showroom, where both Indonesian and Chinese products will be displayed, at the Jakarta Fair grounds.

The deal was signed on Tuesday by the chairman of the committee, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo, and the president of company, Soekardjo Hardjosoewirjo.

Indonesia and China, whose diplomatic relations were cut in 1967, resumed direct trade in 1985 after a visit of a Chinese business delegation sponsored by the chamber. Diplomatic ties were normalized in 1990.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Indonesia's exports to China during the first 10 months of last year increased by 34 percent to US$1.36 billion from $1.01 billion in the same period of 1994, while imports from China rose 7 percent to $1.22 billion from $1.14 billion. (03)