Megawati, Xi Jinping Set RI-China Relations On Solid Foooting

Beijing (Antara Bali) - Indonesia's fifth president Megawati Soekarnoputri and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Thursday night to put relations between the two countries on a solid footing.

"We spoke about how to set a firm basis for the comprehensive strategic partnership that has been agreed by the two countries and to define it more concretely in order to benefit both parties," Megawati remarked after the meeting.

She noted that Indonesia and China can develop cooperation in several areas since the two countries shared similarities in terms of developing the maritime sector.

"China has the 21st Century Maritime Silk Route Project, and we have the maritime axis project. This is a very good opportunity for Indonesia to develop itself by keeping in view the opportunities that fit our need," Megawati noted.

"We want this cooperation to also help promote the Eastern Indonesian region as the focus of our development is the east without neglecting the western region of the country," she emphasized.

The general chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) stated that the close ties of friendship and brotherhood between Indonesia and China were able to overcome the challenges of time.

"Indonesia has consistently adhered to the 'One China Policy,' and even when relations between the two countries had frozen for about 20 years, Indonesia continues to uphold the policy," she noted.

According to Megawati, Indonesia and China are two nations, with values and cultures steeped in history.

"We should not be complacent in addressing any ongoing global developments," Megawati affirmed.

Before paying a courtesy visit to President Jinping, Megawati also held a series of meetings with the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and acted as a speaker in a panel titled "Political Leadership: New Consensus for Politics Party" in the forum of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Beijing.

Leaders of around 300 political parties from different countries were present in the forum. (WDY)