REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to go on a state visit to China at the end of this month to strengthen and increase the Indonesia-China bilateral relation and strategic partnership.
An Indonesian representative in China said on Wednesday that Jokowi's Chinese tour will be a reciprocal visit following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in October 2013.
Jokowi's visit to China will coincide with the 65th year of the Indonesia-China diplomatic ties, which were established on April 13, 1950.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hua Chunying remarked that both countries share a long history of relations. "This year will mark more than half a century of the China-Indonesia relations," he added.
When asked whether there will be a special agenda for the meeting between President Jokowi and President Xi Jinping on the 65th year of the relationship between the two nations, Hua Chunying noted, "We will focus on our good relations that have come this far. There is no special agenda."
China is keen on expanding its cooperation with Indonesia and strengthening relations on mutual trust, respect, and benefit, Hua Chunying pointed out.
"Indonesia is very important for us as a strategic and comprehensive partner and we are serious about that," Hua Chunying stated.
Speaking to Antara, Hua observed that the growing cooperation between the two countries in various fields indicates improvement in their bilateral relation.
He pointed to more intensive reciprocal visits by leaders of the two countries.
President Joko Widodo's scheduled visit this month will be his second to China; his first visit was in November last year for the APEC meeting in Beijing.
China hopes to promote its relations with Indonesia for mutual benefit, Hua Chunying stressed.
"Strengthening and expanding relations will be high on the agenda of President Jokowi's meetings with Chinese leaders during this visit," he added.
The year 2015 will mark the 65th year of the relation between the two most populous countries in the western Pacific rim.
The relations between the two countries have grown since the signing of an agreement on cultural cooperation on April 1, 1961.
The relations hit a rough patch on Oct 30, 1967, following a failed communist rebellion in Indonesia. However, two decades later, both sides agreed to normalize their diplomatic ties and followed it up with economic cooperation.
In October 2013, President Xi Jinping visited Indonesia to mark the expansion of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Indonesia was the first country in Southeast Asia that Xi Jinping visited after his installation as President in March, 2013.
China, the world's second-largest economy, has become Indonesia's largest trading partner.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika
