Senior Chinese legislator pledges closer ties with Indonesia

BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chen Zhili, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or China's top legislature, met with a delegation from the Indonesian Democratic Party -- Struggle (PDI-P) in Beijing on Wednesday.

The delegation, headed by Wiryanti Sukamdani, the PDI-P's chairwoman for women's and children's affairs, is visiting China at the invitation of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Noting the long-term friendship between China and Indonesia, Chen praised the development of bilateral relations, which features frequent high-level visits and fruitful cooperation in various fields.

She said further cementing and deepening the China-Indonesia strategic partnership is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries.

The CPC attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with Indonesia's political parties, including the PDI-P, and is willing to expand exchanges and deepen mutual trust with them, she said.

She said the CPC will enhance communication and cooperation with the political parties of Indonesia on running the party and the state, and on other issues of common interest.

Sukamdani said the PDI-P will maintain close exchanges with the CPC on issues like party-building, economic development and the protection of the rights and interests of women and children, so as to promote the further development of bilateral relations.