Jiang's visit to promote RI-China ties
Jiang's visit to promote RI-China ties
JAKARTA (JP): Chinese President Jiang Zemin returned to
Jakarta yesterday to mark the beginning of an official two-day
visit to Indonesia to further promote relations.
Jiang's return reflects the increasingly warm relations
between the two countries after the freezing of ties for over two
decades.
"Your excellency's visit reflects the close friendship and
cooperation between the two nations," Indonesia's President
Soeharto told the Chinese leader during a dinner held in his
honor at the State Palace last night.
"The atmosphere of mutual trust, friendship and cooperation
will be the strength of our future relationship," Soeharto said.
The important regional role of China was highlighted by
Soeharto when he remarked that close ties between the two
countries have contributed to the establishment of a dynamic
region.
Soeharto also noted China's stance on the Korean peninsula
and the dispute in the South China Sea, pointing out Beijing's
restraint as an important ingredient to regional peace.
Bogor
The Chinese president initially arrived here from Malaysia
on Sunday to attend Tuesday's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) leaders' meeting in Bogor.
The Bogor meeting was attended by 16 heads of state and
government and two high level government representatives, one
from Hong Kong and one from Taiwan. It yielded a declaration
committing member countries to comprehensive trade liberalization
no later than 2020.
APEC, set up in 1989, groups Australia, Brunei, Canada,
Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.
After the meeting in Bogor, Jiang left the next day for
Yogyakarta and continued for a brief stay on the holiday resort
island of Bali.
Of his trip to Yogyakarta and Bali, Jiang expressed his joy
at being able to see the renowned Buddhist temple of Borobudur.
He also stated that he was awed at the perseverance of the
Balinese people in their traditions.
Jiang touched down back in Jakarta at Halim Perdanakusumah
airbase, where he was met by Indonesian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Ali Alatas, yesterday afternoon.
He was immediately taken to Merdeka Palace and given a
formal welcome by President Soeharto, Vice President Try Sutrisno
and a number of Indonesian cabinet ministers.
Indonesian Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said Jiang
Zemin conveyed his appreciation at Soeharto's successful hosting
of the APEC summit.
"President Jiang expressed his belief that his statement
represented the view of all the APEC economic leaders," Moerdiono
said.
During yesterday's dinner, Soeharto said he regarded the
results of the Bogor meeting as "preparing a better future for
our children and grandchildren".
This morning Jiang will hold bilateral talks with Soeharto,
during which the main focus is expected to be the further
enhancement of the newly re-established ties between the two
countries.
Indonesia broke relations with the world's most heavily
populated country in the late 1960's after accusing Beijing of
helping the Indonesian communists in a coup attempt in 1965.
China denied any involvement in the abortive coup.
Despite the recommencement of trade relations in the mid-
1980's, it was not until 1990, after assurances from China that
it would not try to export its communist revolution here, that
Jakarta and Beijing resumed normal diplomatic ties.
Normalization of relations was signified by the arrival of
Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng in August 1990. This was followed
by Soeharto's visit to China three months later.
Jiang is only the second Chinese president to visit
Indonesia, after then president Yang Shangkun's trip here in
1991.
Later today Jiang will attend a gathering of the Chinese
community living in Jakarta. A dinner hosted by the Indonesian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) will be held in his
honor this evening.
Jiang is to leave for Vietnam tomorrow afternoon. (mds)