RI reassures China on One-China stance
RI reassures China on One-China stance
BANGKOK (JP): President Soeharto yesterday met with Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng during which he reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to the One-China policy in spite of growing economic links and trade relations with Taiwan.
"The President told Premier Li Peng that Indonesia is firmly committed to the one China policy," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said while briefing journalists.
Soeharto's personal guarantee to this policy comes at an important time as tension is mounting between China and Taiwan which Beijing considers a "renegade province".
Economic relations between Jakarta and Taipei have been growing rapidly in recent years with Taiwan becoming one of the five largest sources of private foreign investment in Indonesia.
Soeharto and Li Peng met before the closing ceremony of the inaugural Asia Europe Meeting.
Soeharto also had separate talks with French President Jacques Chirac and Irish Prime Minister John Bruton.
According to Moerdiono, Li Peng also rubbished the view that the growing tension with Taiwan would escalate and result in open conflict. Li Peng told Soeharto that the issue would be solved "through peaceful means", he said.
Li Peng further gave assurances that on the issue of the overlapping claims in the South China, Beijing with several other countries in the region, China will respect international sea laws.
Many experts have pointed to the overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea as potential flashpoint in the region.
"It is China's desire to foster long-term regional stability in this region because it recognizes that such a situation is crucial to the region's development," Moerdiono said of Li Peng's explanation.
During the 40-minute meeting they also discussed their mutual experience in handling an overheated domestic economy.
Moerdiono said that the two have adopted common measures, such as strict control of inflation and money.
"The development of economic activities or projects which are not too important should also be reviewed," he said of Soeharto and Li Peng's discussion.
An invitation from Chinese President Jiang Zemin to visit Beijing was also conveyed during the meeting, Moerdiono said.
Soeharto last visited China five years ago.
Chirac
After the closing of the Asia-Europe summit at the Queen Sirikit Convention Center, Soeharto then met with French President Jacques Chirac.
Moerdiono said Chirac conveyed French interest in joining the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
The ARF is a security dialog forum hosted by the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with several of the group's major trading partners.
"The President said we would help and discuss the matter with the other ASEAN members," Moerdiono said.
Before departing for Bangkok in the afternoon, Soeharto met with Irish Premier Bruton.
While relations between Jakarta and Dublin have been good, tension has sometimes been felt due to Ireland's position against the integration of East Timor as an Indonesian province.
Moerdiono said that as the next chairman of the European Union, Ireland would like to get first hand information on Indonesia's youngest province.
According to the Moerdiono, Soeharto gave a "thorough yet concise" explanation of Indonesia's position on East Timor.
"The essence of this explanation was that Indonesia respects the East Timorese people's rights, which in this case means the right to be integrated into Indonesia," Moerdiono said on his way to the airport to board a plane home with the President.
If the East Timor issue remains a preoccupation of the Irish people, Soeharto said they were quite welcome to come to Indonesia and study the local customs, so they can better understand the people, Moerdiono added. (mds)