Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met in Surabaya with the acting governor of Jawa Timur Setia Purwaka and visited the construction site of Suramadu bridge in Indonesia.

During his meeting with Purwaka on Saturday evening, Li voiced his hope that Jawa Timur could play an increasingly important role to help step up relations between China and Indonesia.

"China and Indonesia are good neighbors and both in a significant stage of development," Li said, noting that the growth of China-Indonesia strategic partnership would inject more vigor to their respective domestic development.

Purwaka expressed his welcome to Li's visit, saying that the construction of the Suramadu Bridge assisted by China was a symbol for the friendly cooperation between the two peoples.

Li visited the construction site of Suramadu Bridge on Sunday morning. He asked the Chinese construction working personnel to try their best to ensure the quality of the bridge, which will connect Surabaya and the island of Madura after its completion, and calling on the relevant Chinese financial institutions to offer further support for the projects.

Li arrived in Jakarta on Sunday afternoon. He is expected to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, hold talks with Kalla, and attend a China-Indonesia energy forum on Monday to exchange views on the bilateral relations and other regional and international issues of common concern.

The 11-day tour, Li's first overseas trip since he took office as vice premier in March, will also take him to Egypt and Kuwait.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2008)