The relationship between Indonesia and China has taken a long journey and has gone through its ups and downs.

After a long 24-year suspension, these two Asian countries finally agreed to resume ties. With the breath of common interest and mutual respect, Indonesia and China are strengthening mutually beneficial co-operation.

With the normalization of Indonesian and Chinese diplomatic relations in 1990, co-operation between the two countries has been on the increase.

This is demonstrated by the numerous co-operation agreements between the two countries and other treaties signed by Indonesia and China between 1999 and 2000.

Data from the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing shows that there are 13 agreements on co-operations that have been signed, including economic and technical co-operation, co-operation in health, co-operation in fishery, co-operation in agriculture, double tax treaty, co-operation in aviation, co-operation strengthening exchange of Indonesian and Chinese banks, and others.

China's success

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted as saying that during his present administration Indonesia intends to learn from China's success in its economic development for public welfare.

Since 1978, China's national economy has grown four folds. To date, China's economic growth exceeds US$1 trillion or four times that of Indonesia's.

By purchasing power parity, China is the second biggest country after the United States and China still has a robust pace of economic growth.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to China on July 27, 2005 proves that there is significant progress in Indonesia-China economic relationship.

This is marked by among other things the increased trade target of both countries from US$20 billion in 2008 to US$30 billion in 2010.

The increased volume can be considered rapid because the US$20 billion-target was just recently signed-off by Yudhoyono and Chinese President Hu Jintao when the two met in Jakarta in April 2005.

To date total trade between Indonesia and China has reached US$8.7 billion - US$4.6 billion of which was Indonesia's exports to China and US$4.1 billion being China's exports to Indonesia.

The underlying reason for the welfare-based development partnership is the establishment of relations between governments, business communities and the people, based on trust, mutual respect, cultural understanding, and individual interest as well as friendship, naturally.

It shows that Indonesia and China have stepped into a new and significant era in the history of the two nations.

Co-operation organization

Realizing the increased Indonesia-China economic and non-economic relationships, Indonesian entrepreneurs and businessmen alike who have been participating in trade missions to the People's Republic of China since 1972 agreed to form an organization, namely Indonesia-China Economic, Social and Cultural Co-operation Organization.

As an organ of co-operation this organization is aimed at maintaining and developing co-operation between the two countries in the socio-cultural and economic sector.

It is also aimed at maintaining and improving friendship on the basis of common interest, mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual benefit.

The work programme in the economic field includes helping gather data and economic information for the Chinese business community, helping create a conducive business climate, sending economic delegations to China and welcoming economic missions from China, holding various promotion, exhibition, seminars and discussion activities as well as exchanging opinions which are expected to further economic co-operation.

In the socio-cultural field, there have been many art and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia including exhibitions of Indonesian and Chinese artifacts, documentary films on both countries' history, dance, music, singing, and other cultural elements.

International issues

Indonesia-China co-operation is not limited to both countries' common interests. Both countries intend to raise and build a new economic power in the Asia and Pacific region. Indonesia and China both strive to make the Asia-Africa region independent of, and able to compete with, the West.

This spirit was reflected in the declarations made during the recent Asia-Africa Summit 2005 held in Jakarta in April 2005. The establishment of a "New Asian-African Strategic Partnership" is intended to give both regions a brighter future based on collective self-determination and to ensure the existence of an international environment for Asian and African nations' interests.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said that Indonesia-China relations have been good and successful.

In light of the Asia-Africa Summit, Hu Jintao views that the summit succeeded to establish strategic partnerships among the Asian-African countries.

The summit is an outstanding milestone, showing that Indonesia-China relations have advantages not only from the economic side but also from the geopolitical side.

(China Daily 08/30/2005 page1)