BEIJING, May 5 -- Ahead of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Indonesia next week, experts said stable ties between the two major developing economies will also enhance China's cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In recent years, China and Indonesia have seen frequent high-level exchanges, enhancing political mutual trust. Li's visit would help maintain the momentum of development of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, which was established five years ago.
DOVETAILING DEVELOPMENT PLANS
The two sides' political and security cooperation has progressed, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation, Xu Liping, a senior research fellow with the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.
Their diversified economic interactions include infrastructure projects like the Jatigede Dam in Indonesia and scheduled construction of cooperative industrial zones.
From the annual session of its top legislative body in March to the Boao Forum for Asia conference in April, China has used every important podium to reiterate its commitment to opening up further as well as supporting economic globalization.
The opening up has benefited Indonesia, which is a participator of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Xu said the Chinese premier's visit is expected to advance pragmatic cooperation through the dovetailing of BRI and Indonesia's development strategies, including the Global Maritime Fulcrum.
DEEPENING CHINA-ASEAN TIES
As the largest economy in ASEAN, Indonesia's stable relations with China would bring additional benefits to entire Southeast Asia.
Premier Li plans to visit the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. It has been 15 years since China and ASEAN established their strategic partnership. China has been the largest trading partner of ASEAN for nine consecutive years, with bilateral trade totalling a record high of 514.8 billion U.S. dollars last year.
"China-ASEAN cooperation is the most successful and dynamic in the Asia-Pacific region," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in March.
China-ASEAN ties have been strengthened through sub-regional mechanisms, such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism between China and the five Mekong River nations of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
ASEAN could be a perfect platform for China to deepen sub-regional cooperation, as it has its own comprehensive development plan, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, and thus provides a coordinative foundation for third parties, Song Junying, deputy director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Security and Cooperation Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said.
The East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) framework could also join the LMC for collective development efforts from the sea, Song added.
The BIMP-EAGA was launched in 1994 by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, to accelerate and balance their economic development.
UPHOLDING FREE TRADE
Asian countries have always embraced globalization and free trade through bilateral and multilateral channels.
While China and ASEAN are working on an "upgraded version" of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and building the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, BRI is consolidating the economic integration of Asia through investment and a transportation network.
China hopes ASEAN would keep promoting free trade in Asia, Song said.
Besides working on political and security issues, the two should also come up with new economic practices for win-win results, he added.
体坛英语资讯:Del Potro receives Mexican Open wild card
国际英语资讯:Feature: Libyans want elections to end political split in war-torn country
国际英语资讯:New Brexit Party membership exceeds 100,000: media
国内英语资讯:Outline development plan for Greater Bay Area brings opportunities for Hong Kong: official
体坛英语资讯:Under-pressure Lewandowski walks down memory lane in Champions League
国际英语资讯:Nearly 8,500 measles cases, 136 deaths reported in Philippines
国际英语资讯:Japans Abe denies instructing labor ministry to alter survey method
国内英语资讯:Chinas top anti-graft body lays out work priorities of 2019
国际英语资讯:UN condemns deadly bombings in Idlib of Syria
如果每天吃燕麦,你会变成这样
健康补品西芹汁
国际英语资讯:European ALDE PMs highlight EU single market, pledge to counter populism
国内英语资讯:Chinese president meets Irans parliament speaker
Rumor Kills People 流言害死人
国际英语资讯:Prince William, Prince Harry to split royal household in weeks
国际英语资讯:70th anniversary of China-Bulgaria relations to boost cooperation: official
餐厅是怎么引诱我们多花钱的?
国内英语资讯:China to further cut red tape to invigorate market
不消费就别来!世界各地景区用旅游税驱逐“低价值游客”
研究发现:恋爱中的女人不容易得感冒
国内英语资讯:Chinas top legislator vows to enhance exchanges with National Diet of Japan
国际英语资讯:Iran says Pakistani nationals involved in suicide attack on guards
国际英语资讯:Many ways of cooperation with China exist, says Paris 2024 head
国际英语资讯:299 mln USD sought to aid 2.3 mln people in Cameroon: UN
国内英语资讯:China to develop over 5 mln hectares of high-standard farmland
娱乐英语资讯:Chinese composer to fuse Chinese melodies, jazz at New York concert
威廉王子和哈里王子要分家了
国内英语资讯:Rural financial institutions expanding in China
体坛英语资讯:Krasnodar send Leverkusen packed on away goals
Protecting the Wild Animals 保护野生动物