"We fully understand that adequate military forces are needed to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the unitary Republic of Indonesia," he said here on Thursday.
He said Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro`s visit in China late last month was very important to create the ever increasingly stronger defence cooperation between the two nations, particularly in developing their respective defence industry.
Anyway, Indonesia`s adequate military forces could support security stability not only in Indonesia as a sovereign state but also in the region, he said.
Defence cooperation between the two nations had existed for a quite long time. It was not until 2006 that the two nations held the first ever joint consultation forum in Jakarta, followed by a bilateral consultation forum in Beijing in 2007.
The two forums had assisted the two countries in enhancing their defence cooperation, evident from the signing of Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the two nations in 2007.
Asked if President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would touch on the defence cooperation during his visit in Beijing on March 22-24, Chao said "it is likely that he will do that."
Indonesia and China are looking into the possibility of jointly producing guided missiles C-705 for the Indonesian Navy`s warships.
Indonesia has so far equipped some of its warships with guided missiles C-802. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
