Indonesia, China leaders agree to boost trade, defense ties
The leaders of China and Indonesia issued a joint statement Friday in which they agreed to promote greater trade and investment between their countries and intensify bilateral cooperation in defense and military fields.
The joint statement, carried in full by Xinhua News Agency, said Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agreed in their talks Thursday ”to promote a more attractive and favorable environment for greater trade and investment cooperation.”
The two sides agreed to explore the possible establishment of a China-Indonesia investment promotion mechanism, it said.
Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino P. Djalal was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying Indonesia and China want to see two-way trade rise to $30 billion by 2010 from $13 billion in 2004.
The joint statement said Hu and Yudhoyono also agreed ”that the two countries will work together in developing each other’s defense industries as well as in setting up a consultation mechanism for defense and security officials.’