"Many countries see China as a beautiful and rich lady, and therefore every country wants to have special relations with China. It`s not surprise that there is no day without a visit by foreign high ranking officials in China," Ambassador Imran told a number of Indonesia`s journalists here, Wednesday.
He said that the upcoming visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Beijing, March 22-24, 2012, is very timely to reciprocate the visit of China`s President Hu Jintao in Jakarta in 2005.
When holding a meeting with Yudhoyono at that time, President Hu conveyed an invitation to Yudhoyono to visit Beijing.
According to tentative agenda of the president`s visit in Beijing, he will hold a bilateral talk with President Hu Jintao, and separate meetings respectively with Standing Committee Chairman of the National People`s Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo, and with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
A number of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) will be signed during his visit, among other things on maritime, illicit drug handling, archives, and the extension of bilateral swap agreement between Bank Indonesia and People`s Bank of China.
There will also be the signing of MOUs on the development of Sunda Strait bridge, metal industry by PT Krakatau Steel, and aviation cooperation involving Merpati Airlines, aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, AVIC International Cooperation and Commercial Aircraft Cooperation China Ltd.
China is expected to invest US$530 million in the metal industry in Indonesia.
The president`s entourage will include 30 Indonesian businessmen.
Yudhoyono will receive a doctorate honoris causa from 101-year-old Tsinghua University in Haidian District, Beijing.
According to a reliable source, the university considers President Yudhoyono deserves the honorary doctorate because he has been able to get the Indonesian people out of two crises, namely the crisis after the deadly tsunami in 2006 and the economic crisis in 2008.
Besides, Yudhoyono is also seen as a leader who has given contribution to peace, political stability and prosperity not only in Indonesia but also in the region.
First Lady Ani Yudhoyono is expected to inaugurate an Indonesian Language Study Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
