Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji met with Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid in Manila on November 27 and said that Sino-Indonesian friendly cooperation is conducive to the stability and development of Asia as a whole.

At their meeting, Zhu told Wahid that China appreciates both the president's long pursuit of a positive stand towards developing ties with China, and his choosing of China as the first country for his official visit since his assumption of office last month.

Under the leadership of Wahid, Indonesia is seeing its situation turning normal gradually. China positively appraises his pursuit of a national reconciliatory policy, Zhu said.

China is ready, to the best of its ability, to provide assistance for Indonesia's economic recovery and development, the premier said.

Wahid said Indonesia deeply respects China and wants to establish a very friendly bilateral relationship of cooperation, adding that his forthcoming state visit to China will surely strengthen the ties.

He stressed that the Indonesian Chinese should enjoy equal rights with other ethnic groups in Indonesia, and all the peoples there shall make joint and concerted efforts in building a brighter future.

The president also congratulated China on the latest progress it has made in its efforts to gain entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

China and the United States signed a bilateral agreement on China's accession to the WTO in Beijing on November 15, removing key barriers for China to join this largest global trade system.

Zhu and Wahid are in Manila to attend the 3rd informal summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners of China, Japan and South Korea, which is scheduled for Sunday.

Zhu said the summit should serve to promote intra-East Asia cooperation, in the economic and trade area in particular. He expressed the hope that the gathering will be devoted to regional unity and cooperation, instead of highlighting some points of dispute.

ASEAN, founded in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.