China, Indonesia pledge closer maritime cooperation

China and Indonesia held the first meeting of the Maritime Cooperation Committee here on Thursday, pledging to boost maritime cooperation between the two countries.

"Both sides recognize maritime cooperation as a key element of the China-Indonesia strategic partnership," according to a joint press release issued after the meeting, which was co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying and her Indonesian counterpart Wardana.

The meeting was held "as a follow-up action to the Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Cooperation signed by the ministers of foreign affairs of the two countries in March 2012," according to the release.

It said the establishment of the Maritime Cooperation Committee and the China-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation Fund is a new step in further strengthening existing maritime cooperation between the two countries. The committee and the fund were both established in March in order to promote closer maritime cooperation with greater achievements between China and Indonesia.

"China and Indonesia are willing to work closely to materialize the commitment of the two countries' leaders to making new progress in maritime cooperation," according to the release.

At the meeting, both sides expressed the appreciation of the achievements made in bilateral maritime cooperation, and discussed the direction of, and key areas for, future cooperation, said the release.

The two sides also agreed to adopt relevant maritime cooperation projects under the framework of the Maritime Cooperation Committee, according to the release, without providing details on the projects.