Li Peng's visit to Indonesia aimed at strengthening ties
Li Peng's visit to Indonesia aimed at strengthening ties
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Speaker of the Chinese parliament Li Peng plans a working visit
to Indonesia to discuss various issues related to the efforts to
enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.
State Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises Alimarwan
Hanan told reporters on Monday that Li would hold talks with Vice
President Hamzah Haz on Sept. 10.
Alimarwan was speaking after accompanying Hamzah during a
meeting with China's ambassador to Indonesia, Lu Shumin.
The second most powerful person in China will bring a 20-
strong entourage, including several ministers and the Shantung
provincial governor, Alimarwan said.
Spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marty
Natalegawa told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the visit would
be hosted by the People's Consultative Assembly.
"The visit will last from Sept. 8 to Sept. 13, and the
assembly will play host to the state guest," Marty said.
Li Peng will meet with Hamzah as President Megawati
Soekarnoputri is away on a 15-day overseas trip.
Relations between the two countries have been blossoming,
especially since Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visited Jakarta late
last year with a promise to further increase the oil and gas
trade.
In response, Megawati visited Beijing last March.
However, relations were put to the test a little when Taiwan's
Vice President Annette Lu visited Jakarta last month, when she
met executives of Indonesia's second largest party Golkar.
China officially lodged a protest with Jakarta for allowing
Vice President Lu to enter the country, despite the fact that
Indonesia supports the "one China policy".
Alimarwan said that during the meeting, the Chinese ambassador
had not raised the issue of the Taiwanese number two's visit, but
rather underlined China's commitment to maintaining good
relations with Indonesia.
"Pak Hamzah said that he welcomed the visit and that Indonesia
had a lot to learn from China, especially from its amazing
development," Alimarwan said.