Chinese vice premier visits Indonesia to boost cooperation

China and Indonesia should push for balanced, rapid growth of bilateral trade and make agriculture, forestry and fishery new highlights of cooperation, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said in Jakarta on Monday.

Hui made the remarks when meeting with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for economy Hatta Rajasa.

"One of the major purposes of my visit is to implement the consensus of the leaders of our two countries on developing bilateral relations," Hui said, referring to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's state visit to China in March.

China and Indonesia agreed to boost trade in their joint statement during President Yudhoyono's visit and signed agreements worth US$17 billion, covering 15 projects in the fields of iron and steel making, textile manufacturing, hydroelectric generation, mining and agriculture.

Hui suggested the two countries make full use of the existing mechanisms and map out the detailed economic and trade cooperation plans, in line with their own development strategies, strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation partnership, explore new areas of cooperation and work together on regional issues to safeguard mutual interests.

Hatta said Indonesia welcomed China's investment in business and hoped the two countries expand the bilateral trade volume, further their cooperation in energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishery.

Indonesia was willing to work with China to strengthen bilateral relations, he said.

After the meeting, the two officials witnessed the signing of documents, including one on seismic science cooperation.

Hui is now in Indonesia for the final leg of his five-nation tour, which has taken him to Macedonia, Montenegro, Namibia and Zimbabwe.