Probosutedjo in China

Probosutedjo in China

BEIJING (AFP): The half brother of Indonesian President
Soeharto met yesterday with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Bangguo to
discuss the financial crisis which has wracked the Southeast
Asian region, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Probosutedjo, described as "a well-known banker and
entrepreneur in Indonesia", said he was "impressed" by China's
economic growth and stability in the face of the Asian financial
storm.

His visit was made amid increasing unrest in Indonesia and
resentment against the Chinese minority in the country gripped by
the economic crisis.

Indonesia's Chinese community which represents five million of
Indonesia's 200 million population, control a large part of the
country's commerce and economy.

Wu said China's commitment not to devalue its local currency,
the yuan, "supports other Southeast Asian economies."

He said China was sympathetic to Indonesia's fiscal
difficulties, adding Beijing has offered assistance within its
capacity to Indonesia under a 40-billion dollar bailout deal put
together by the International Monetary Fund.