RI Must Always Enhance Ties With China: Envoy

Beijing, Jan 31 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia Imron Cotan said Indonesia should always increase and expand its relations with China, the world`s second largest economy. "Relations between Indonesia and China are getting increased in various fields. But we must not stop at this point, much less to step back," he said at a reception marking the transfer of post of Indonesian representative for China on Wednesday night. He pointed out trade between Indonesia and China almost tripled to US$66.6 billion in 2012 from US$23.6 billion in 2010. "It is expected Chinese investment in Indonesia can reach US$1.2 billion as targeted in 2012. Likewise, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia will hopefully continue to increase," he said. More than 800 thousand Chinese tourists visited Indonesia last year compared to 265 thousand two years ago, he said. "Despite a shortage of personnel at the Indonesian representative in China, relations between the two countries have increased all the time. With the presence of a new official at the Indonesian representative in China, relations between the two countries can be further increased and expanded," he said. Indonesia and China have adopted a framework of strategic partnership they must translate into concrete steps in the future to give a maximum benefit to both countries, he said.