Confucian ethic keeps China in harmony with Indonesia

Confucian ethic keeps China in harmony with Indonesia

Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

For outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lu Shumin, following
the age-old Chinese adage of maintaining a harmony of mind and
manners has helped him keep congenial relations between his
country and Indonesia.

The Confucian ethic is also applicable in trade and politics.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post at the embassy on
Wednesday, Lu said that China's fast economic growth should be
seen as an opportunity for Indonesia.

"The world is changing. China views itself as a country being
entitled to achieve, to strive for its own development. Any
country's rapid development, in my opinion, should not be
considered a threat to others.

"China's development is open to the whole world, and a
developed China would create opportunities for Indonesia. I think
more and more Indonesians have come to realize this potential,"
Lu said.

China signed a landmark free trade agreement with the 10
countries grouped in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) during the November summit in Vientianne.

The pact, scheduled to be instituted by 2010, includes an
agreement to liberalize tariff and non-tariff barriers on goods
and another to set up a mechanism to resolve trade disputes.

Some observers maintain that such a free trade zone, covering
nearly two billion people, would disadvantage Indonesian
producers unless they could improve their competitiveness.

Lu, a Canada-educated diplomat, said the Chinese government
was willing to help Indonesia develop its economy. He said he had
seen the rapid development in bilateral ties in various areas
such as politics, economic, culture, education, science and
tourism.

"Indonesia has its strong points. What matters is how it uses
its strength to make up for its shortcomings. Both sides can
combine their abilities to benefit each other and the region.

"There will always be competition, but competition itself is
not something that Indonesia has to worry about. A strong Chinese
economy will empower the abilities of local companies. Chinese
businessmen are willing to come and to do business in this
country."

According to Indonesian government figures, the trade volume
between two countries reached to US$5.4 billion in the first
eight months of 2004. The full statistics have yet to be
released.

In 2003, bilateral trade volume rose to $6.8 billion from $5.3
billion in the previous year, with the balance favoring
Indonesia.

Indonesian Minister of Trade Marie Elka Pangestu was quoted as
saying by the Bisnis Indonesia last month that China was the
fourth-largest export destination for non-oil products and the
third-largest importer to Indonesia.

China and Indonesia set up diplomatic relations on April 13,
1950. On Oct. 30, 1967, Indonesia suspended the diplomatic ties
following the aborted coup of the Indonesian Communist Party. On
Aug. 8, 1990, both countries resumed ties, and their leaders have
exchanged visits and maintained contact ever since.

Lu said he had seen the best period of Chinese-Indonesian
relations during his tenure. The 55 year old first presented his
credentials to then-president Megawati Soekarnoputri in 2002.

He noted that Indonesians of Chinese descent had been
experiencing less discrimination in the country.

"The country's stability and development very much depends on
the different ethnic groups living side by side in harmony.
Indonesia is a country of many different ethnic groups. The
strength of Indonesia can be demonstrated by their numbers.

"I think things are moving in the right direction. The Chinese
community in the past few years, since the democratization of
this country, has gained more of a chance to exercise their
rights. They can use the Chinese language, set up their own
organizations. They have Chinese newspapers, TV programs and so
on. This is a healthy development."

He also expressed his hope that the present anti-
discriminatory legislation would never be abolished, "so the
Chinese community and the people here can believe that they are
also the masters of this country along with other ethnic groups
-- encouraging them to make a greater contribution to society."

In 1996, president Soeharto canceled the regulation requiring
Chinese-Indonesians to produce SBKRI (Indonesian citizenship
certificates) if they wanted to obtain official documents like
passports.

In 1998, president B.J. Habibie issued a presidential
instruction to end the official use of the phrases "indigenous"
and "non-indigenous Indonesians".

In 2000, president Abdurrahman Wahid revoked a regulation
banning Chinese-Indonesians from celebrating their religious
ceremonies and holidays.

Two years later, Megawati declared Chinese New Year a national
holiday.