China now considering RI important political partner

Beijing, (ANTARA News) - China now considers Indonesia as one of its most important partners in the political field as reflected in the increasingly improved relations between the two nations over the past five years, an Indonesian diplomat said.

"In the past five years, China come to regard Indonesia as one of its most important and strategic partners," Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indonesian Embassy Mohamad Oemar said here on Wednesday.

He said since the resumption of Indonesia-China diplomatic ties in 1990, the two countries` bilateral relations, particularly in the political field, had been growing rapidly.

The relations were further fostered after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Chinese counterpart President Hu Jintao signed a strategic cooperation agreement in 2005 as a basis for the two nations to increase their cooperation, he said.

The Indonesian diplomat said one of the indications that China now regarded Indonesia as an important partner was the fact that the number of top Chinese officials visiting Indonesia for various purposes was increasing.

The Chinese officials included those of the Chinese Communist Party such as Prime Minister Li Keqiang who met with President Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Likewise, many Indonesian officials had also paid visits to China such as those made by Kalla, House Speaker Agung Laksono and others.