Visiting Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said in Singapore on November 5 that his country will strengthen economic ties with China and India.

Speaking at a luncheon for some 600 local and international businessmen, Wahid said: "In future, Indonesia would like to develop economic ties with the People's Republic of China as well as India with the help of the technology, the contacts, the capital and the managerial skills of the people from Singapore and Japan."

He also made it clear that Indonesia will promote relations with China, India, Singapore and Japan not by sacrificing relations and interests with other countries, noting that he will go to the United States to meet President Bill Clinton after the ASEAN informal summit in Manila later this month.

Referring to the economic policy of his government, Wahid said Indonesia will let the market forces decide prices and everything without government interference although the government can play an important role.

He said Indonesia has the ability and resources to go forward in its economic development.

Wahid said that in his meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong earlier in the day, he asked for Singapore support and advice on how to make Batam, an island of Indonesia, a free trade zone and Goh suggested that Indonesia should look at making Bintan and Karimun Islands free trade zones as well. He expressed his interest and welcome to Goh's idea.

He also said Goh will lead an investment mission to Indonesia after the informal ASEAN summit.

He added that he would ask Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew to be part of the International Advisory Board for Indonesia.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie said at the luncheon that he expected the Indonesian economy to grow by about two percent next year, adding that the International Monetary Fund would resume lending to Indonesia.

Also on Saturday, Wahid met with his Singapore counterpart S. R. Nathan, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Later in the afternoon, Wahid left for Malaysia, the next leg of his current ASEAN tour. (Xinhua)