"The comprehensive strategic partnership between Indonesia and China continues to develop and constitutes the most dynamics in the Asia and Pacific region," President Xi Jinping said when holding a bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Peoples Great Hall of China here on Sunday.
Xi Jinping said that the relationship between Indonesia and China had been running for a long time. They have a very deep friendship.
"There is an Indonesian saying: out of sight close to the heart. Even though the two countries are separated by the wide sea and ocean, the magnitude of the waves will not hinder our exchange of activities, beginning from the visit of Admiral Chengho (who sailed to Indonesia) to the Asian-African Conference," said President Xi.
He said that the two countries have established a deep friendship and respect each other as common neighbors and old friends.
On the occasion, President Xi congratulated Jokowi who was elected as the seventh President of Indonesia recently for the coming five years.
"I am convinced under the leadership of Jokowi, Indonesia will become more advanced, including in development and in international affairs," the Chinese President said.
In the meantime, President Jokowi said he wanted Indonesia-China comprehensive strategic partnership to be more concrete and implemented for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
"Indonesia and China already have relations since in the past hundreds of years. This is an asset for the two countries to build a comprehensive strategic partnership. Ahead, I want this comprehensive strategic partnership to become more concrete," Jokowi.
In the meeting, President Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sofyan Djalil, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto and Regional Representative Council (DPD) Chairman GKR Hemas.
President Jokowi said that if the comprehensive strategic partnership is made more concrete and implemented, it would benefit the two countries, particularly their peoples.
On the occasion President Jokowi also expressed his gratitude for being invited to the 22nd meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit which will be held on November 10-11, 2014.
President Jokowi also invited President Xi Jinping to attend the 60th anniversary of the Afro-Asian Conference in Indonesia.
Indonesia and China established a strategy partnership through an agreement signed by then Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and then Chinese President Hu Jintao on April 25, 2005.
Both countries agreed to raise their strategic partnership agreement to comprehensive partnership agreement when President Xi Jinping visited Indonesia in October 2013.
(A014)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
