China plans to open a new consulate general in the Indonesian town of Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province, in efforts to strengthen bilateral relationship, an envoy said Thursday.

China's Ambassador to Indonesia Lan Lijun unveiled the plan during his meeting with East Java Governor Imam Utomo in Surabaya.     

"I came here today to get permission from the governor to establish our new consulate general," he told reporters.

Lan said that new consulate will help strengthen relationship between the two countries, primarily in the areas of education, trade, economics, culture and politics.

President Hu Jintao already discussed the establishment of the Surabaya consulate general when he met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta in April. 

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2005)