Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) Shi Guangsheng and Indonesian Minister of Trade and Industry Luhut Pandjaitan made the pledge during the 5th session of the China-Indonesia Joint Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation Commission.

Shi noted that bilateral trade for January to September this year was 5.42 billion U.S. dollars, up 60.7 percent over the same period of previous year.

The figure is expected to reach 10 billion U.S. dollars in three to five years, Shi said.

He noted that the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing economic and trade cooperation with Indonesia.

There are bright prospects for bilateral cooperation in the areas of energy, traffic, electric power, agriculture, and fisheries, Shi said.

Shi thanked Indonesia for supporting China on its accession into the World Trade Organization.

The Indonesian minister said that his government is very willing to develop economic and trade relations with China, adding that Indonesia hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in areas of electric power and aircraft manufacturing.

(People’s Daily 10/24/2000)