President Jiang Promises Financial Help for Indonesia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 25, 2002

President Jiang Promises Financial Help for Indonesia

Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Sunday in Beijing that China will offer US$400 million of preferential loans to Indonesia to promote bilateral cooperation and support Indonesia's economic development.
Jiang made a four-point proposal on boosting China-Indonesia relation during talks with Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

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Four-point Proposal Made by Jiang

Megawati arrived in Beijing on Sunday afternoon on a five-day state visit. This is Megawati's first visit to China since becoming President.

Jiang made a four-point proposal on boosting China-Indonesia relations: maintaining top-level contacts and exchange; expanding trade and economic cooperation; expanding cooperation in culture, education and tourism sectors; and strengthening cooperation in the international arena.

Jiang said Indonesia, like China, was a nation with many minority groups. The unity among different ethnic groups was vital to the country's stability and development.

Great Efforts Made by Indonesia: Jiang

Jiang noted that Megawati herself and the Indonesian Government have made efforts to improve the conditions of ethnic Chinese in Indonesia, and China was appreciative of those efforts.

"China sincerely hopes that all minority groups in Indonesia can live harmoniously, and ethnic Chinese can merge in local society and make new contributions to the economic prosperity and social progress of Indonesia," Jiang said.

Close Friendship Shared by Two Countries

Jiang, who met Megawati last year in Shanghai during APEC meetings, said Megawati's father, President Sukarno, established a close friendship with former Chinese leaders, and laid a solid foundation for China-Indonesia relations. The current visit by Megawati and a large delegation showed that Megawati herself paid great attention to developing bilateral relations with China.

China was satisfied with the good development momentum of bilateral relations, Jiang said. adding that it was a set policy of China to pursue long-term stable and friendly relations with Indonesia.

Megawati Agreed with Jiang's Proposal

Megawati said she agreed with Jiang's four-point proposal. She said she admired the economic achievement of China over the years, adding that relations between Indonesia and China had great potential to grow.

The Indonesian president thanked China for its assistance and support, saying it showed China's sincere wish to develop bilateral relations.

She said her country's economy was evidently recovering, and she very much hoped to have understanding and support from China and other friendly nations.

Indonesia Proud of "Asia-Africa Spirit"

Megawati said Indonesia was proud of the "Asia-Africa Spirit" that former Indonesian and Chinese leaders jointly created. Indonesia was ready to strengthen cooperation and coordination with China on international and regional issues, and make joint efforts for a new, better world order.

Following the talks, the two presidents presided over the signing of an agreement on Indonesia's establishment of consulates general in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and four other memorandums of understanding on economic and technological cooperation.

China and Indonesia

I, Political Relations

China and Indonesia established diplomatic relations on 13 April 1950, which was suspended on 30 October 1967 due to the occurrence of the "November 30 event" of 1965.

The bilateral relations began to ease since 1980s. Foreign Minister Qian Qichen of China met respectively with President Soharto and State Minister Moerdiono of Indonesia in 1989 to discuss the resumption of diplomatic relations of the two countries. In December 1989, the two sides held talks on the technical issues regarding the normalization of bilateral relations and signed the Minutes. Foreign Minister Ali Alatas of Indonesia visited China on invitation in July 1990 and the two sides issued the Agreement on the Settlement of Indonesia's Debt Obligation to China and the Communique on the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.

Premier Li Peng visited Indonesia on invitation in August 6, 1990.

The bilateral relations developed steadily since the resumption of diplomatic relations of the two countries. The leaders of the two sides have maintained exchange of visits and contacts. As a result, mutual understanding and trust had been increasing, laying the foundation for the healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.

II. Economic and Trade Relations

Bilateral trade volume has risen very quickly since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties, from 1.18 billion US$ in 1990 to 7.464 billion in 2000, with an increase of 54.5% over the previous year.

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