China's foreign minister in town for talks to boost trade ties

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks here Wednesday with Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda on ways to double bilateral trade in the next three years.

After the talks between the two delegations, the two foreign ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on economic and technical cooperation, as well as on China's commitment to provide a grant of 10 million yuan (Rp 12 billion) to assist Indonesia's development.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry director for Asia and the Pacific Yuri Thamrin said it was hoped bilateral trade would reach US$30 billion by 2010 from last year's $15 billion.

The visit by the newly appointed Yang, only his third overseas stop since becoming foreign minister, after Mongolia and North Korea, shows the importance of Indonesia for China, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo said.

"Indonesia is seen by China as an important country in the region and the world, as it is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. That's why Indonesia is a priority," he said.

Kristiarto said both ministers expressed satisfaction with the level of relations since a strategic partnership agreement was signed in 2005.

Foreign Ministry director for international treaties and legal affairs, Arief Havas Oegroseno, said the two delegations also touched on the need to speed up the realization of an extradition treaty between the countries.

"Hopefully, we can conclude the treaty before the end of the year. Right now, we have finished the first round of negotiations. And we have begun drafting the treaty. We will resume the talks early in August," he said.

The two ministers also discussed regional issues, focusing on the latest developments in Myanmar and North Korea.

China has played a key role in both issues. Myanmar has been a close trading partner of China.

Critics have said its economic relationship with Beijing has allowed Myanmar's military junta to hang onto power after Western countries slapped an embargo on it for its human rights violations and its slow move toward democratization.

China and Russia vetoed a U.S.-led resolution at the UN to apply further sanctions against Myanmar earlier this year.

Yang also brief Hassan on the success of China and other six-party countries in persuading North Korea to shut down its nuclear reactors.

The Chinese foreign minister ended a three-day visit to North Korea on Wednesday before leaving for Indonesia.

Official news agency Xinhua reported that Yang's visit to North Korea focused on his talks with the country's leader, Kim Jong-il, on Tuesday, with both sides touching on a series of issues including the nuclear issue.

China, host country of the six-party talks, wants to see the "full implementation" of the existing agreements on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Yang said.

Kim said there have been some "signs of easing" on the peninsula and all parties concerned should take initial actions.

The Chinese foreign minister was in Pyongyang after a three-day visit to Mongolia.