In a joint statement issued as Susilo wrapped up his state visit to China, the Indonesian side encouraged Chinese enterprises to participate in efforts to augment Indonesia's industrial capacity, and said it will continue to create a favorable investment atmosphere for foreign investors. Indonesia also expressed a desire to have Chinese enterprises invest more in its mining industry.

Indonesia is rich in natural resources. One fourth of China's coal imports are from Indonesia, Xu said. It is also a big crude oil exporter in ASEAN. Many Chinese enterprises have participated in Indonesia's resource exploitation. Since Indonesia is weak in oil exploration technology, there is a lot that Chinese enterprises can do to help Indonesia with oil exploration, Xu said.

Upgrading ties

In recent years, high-level official visits have been frequent between China and Indonesia. Prior to this trip, Susilo also visited China in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

"I think the latest visit aimed to further advance the bilateral strategic partnership established in 2005 during President Hu Jintao's visit to Indonesia," said Tang.

During his visit from March 22 to 24, Susilo visited Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China's top institutions of higher learning, and gave a speech there. He also received an honorary doctorate from the university.

"Awarding a foreign leader with an honorary degree usually reflects a harmonious bilateral relationship," said Tang. "The Sino-Indonesian relationship has upgraded greatly in the last decade, from both economic cooperation and trade to political relations and regional security collaboration."

After the honorary doctorate award ceremony, Susilo said the honor is not only for himself but for the Indonesian people. He said more Indonesian students would come to study in China, and his government supports strengthening bilateral cultural exchanges and deepening mutual friendship.

With the sound growth of its economy, Indonesia's status and influence in regional and global affairs are on the rise. Indonesia plays an important role in ASEAN and in the Islamic world, Qu said. A smooth Sino-Indonesian relationship under multilateral cooperation frameworks such as ASEAN Plus China, ASEAN Plus China, Japan and South Korea and the East Asia Summit contributes to a better Sino-ASEAN relationship as well as efforts to address global challenges and regional hotspot issues, he added.

"Indonesia is very active in regional affairs and wants to play a leading role among ASEAN countries. With its growing national strength, it has a louder voice in the region," said Tang.

Given its rapid development in recent years, Indonesia needs more multilateral forums so that it can play a bigger role in world affairs, Tang said. The country is a member of the Group of 20, a premier forum for global economic cooperation, and has showed interest in joining the BRICS club of emerging economies, currently consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

"As a newly emerging economy, Indonesia is eligible to join BRICS," Tang said. With shared aspirations for sustainable economic growth, China and Indonesia would work together closely in the grouping if Indonesia were to be admitted, she added.

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