JAKARTA, April 10  -- Marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between Indonesia and China, Indonesia wants to expand the bilateral relationship into wider array of sectors, more than just economic ties that has been excellent for all these years, an Indonesian expert said in an interview.

Jusuf Wanandi, the deputy chairman of Indonesian think tank agency, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Foundation, said China and Indonesia have become mature countries in the past 60 years and improved their bilateral relations a lot.

He said that the two countries have been developing so fast. " That's why we have a lot more to cooperate, discuss about, negotiate and also increase the exchanges. Not only ideas and thoughts but also exchange our people at the end. Not only economic term, but also cultural and educational terms, which are also very important relationship," Jusuf told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in his spacious office here on Wednesday.

"We can not only pay attention to the economic relationship. It 's important, but that is not enough," he said.

As the two countries have entered maturity stage in their bilateral relationship, Jusuf said that it is the right time to build up wider and deeper relations aimed at improving the people- to-people relationship in the two countries, so that the people would understand each other's way of thinking and development.

He believed that the support of each other's people was very important for a good relationship in the future. "So I hope based on the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship, we also can have and establish a deeper relationship and a wider relationship, which is more than we have now," Jusuf, who is also a co-publisher of a Jakarta-based English language daily, said.

Jusuf said that officials of the two countries had conducted a series of meetings to discuss efforts that need to be conducted to achieve this aim. He suggested the two countries to build a forum mechanism, including a regular summit for two leaders and frequent meetings between ministers.

Besides, he also hoped that the two countries' media would expand their cooperation by holding forums and sending correspondents to each other. According to Jusuf, that is the direct way to enhance mutual understanding between Chinese and Indonesian people.

Jusuf said the forum mechanism is expected to become a place to share information about policies, culture, and regulation. It is aimed at making people in both countries understand each other, so that they could support the governments to improve the relationship.

For the efforts to enhance the relationship, Jusuf said that Chinese Indonesian like him had a very important role to play.

"We are now the Indonesian citizens that have some empathy towards China, because we are also of Chinese origin. So we are also respect the country where we are coming from. We are loyal to Indonesia, but we also feel very close to China," he added.

"That is why I think that we have a role to play to help this relationship, to improve this relationship, to strengthen this relationship."

In that case, Jusuf initiated a delegation to Beijing recently for a 60th anniversary forum between officials and scholars between China and Indonesia, and will hold another forum in Jakarta this September.

He also planned to hold Chinese-Balinese painting exhibition in Jakarta and small and medium-sized enterprises meeting in Shanghai, which are expected to enhance the bilateral ties in terms of politics, economy, education and culture.

The famous analyst said that it was important for Indonesia to have closer relationship with China, as China had become one of the most important countries in East Asia. "And East Asia has become the most important part of the world, so that is why we think China has a very important role to play," he added.

When talking about the China-ASEAN free trade zone, Jusuf said that some sectors of Indonesia indeed suffered negative influences, but that was normal for a new thing, which will bring many benefits while making some sectors left behind.

"The main thing we have to do, with China's help and cooperation, is to grow our economy better than before. Now with this FTA, we have the chance to overcome these setbacks in several sectors," he said. "At the end, the really biggest problem is how to grow faster and higher."

Jusuf said China would provide Indonesia assistance in terms of programs, aids and supports for the sectors lagging behind. "So I am very hopeful that this criticism now will be overcome. Because through our cooperation, we can overcome it not too long, and also not too difficult," he added.

Jusuf believed that China and Indonesia, as two large countries in East Asia, would contribute much to the region and the world.

"We are now members of G20. So through this cooperation, I hope with other East Asian countries, we from East Asia can really contribute a lot. Through our cooperation, particularly in G20, we then can contribute not only to the region but also to the world. And I think the world is expecting that from us."

Source:xinhua