RI - China Ties Increasingly Become Important

Jakarta, April 2 (Antara) - Close relations and cooperation between Indonesia and China have increasingly become important not only for the two nations but also for the region, a senior Indonesian minister said. "Indonesia and China have longstanding historical relations and we can learn much from the longstanding relations," Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said at a seminar on promoting economic cooperation between Indonesia and China`s Yunnan Province here on Monday evening. As large countries which have influence in their respective region, Indonesia and China play a pivotal role in creating regional security and prosperity, he said. "The good relations and cooperation between Indonesia and China will also have an impact on regional stability and prosperity," he said. Chief of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Irman Gusman meanwhile said both nations have the obligation to step up the existing good relations and cooperation in the future. "The longstanding historical relations between Indonesia and China may lay a foundation for the creation of the ever-increasingly closer relations and cooperation in the future," he said. He expressed hope that under China`s new leadership relations between the two nations will be getting better. "Indonesia as the world`s seventh largest economy and China as the world`s second largest economy are responsible for creating regional prosperity," he said. They are also responsible for creating conducive investment and trade climate in their respective countries and therefore, the existing good relations will increasingly become better and have a positive impact not only on the two countries but also on their respective region, he said. Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia Imron Cotan said both nations still have a great chance to enhance cooperation. "China has huge market and stable and positive economic growth but Indonesia has not taken maximum advantage of them yet," he said.