Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Jakarta on Tuesday that China is ready to work with Indonesia to carry forward the Bandung Spirit under the new goal of strategic partnership aiming to further develop bilateral ties.

The Chinese president made the remarks when delivering a speech at a banquet in Indonesia.

China and Indonesia are friendly neighbors with a long history of amicable people to people exchanges, said the Chinese president, adding Indonesia was among the first Southeast Asian nations to establish diplomatic relations with China.

Hu noted this year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia, adding that he had fruitful talks and meetings with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other Indonesian leaders on Monday.

China and Indonesia are friendly neighbors with a long history of amicable people-to-people exchanges. Great headway has been made in China-Indonesia relations since they established full diplomatic ties 55 years ago, Hu added.

"Thanks to the joint efforts of our two governments and peoples, the relationship between China and Indonesia has embraced a new phase of fast, sound and steady progress," said the Chinese president.

He said bilateral political mutual trust has further increased.

Economic cooperation and trade is in good shape with two-way trade growing every year, reaching 13.48 billion US dollars last year, up by 31.8 percent.

"Our two sides have a series of large cooperation projects in such fields as energy, resource development and infrastructure, bringing tangible benefits to the people. Cooperation in culture, education and security keeps expanding, and we have close coordination and cooperation in both international and regional affairs," said the Chinese president in his speech.

When Indonesia was hit by a massive earthquake followed by tsunamis at the end of last year and another powerful earthquake not long ago, the Chinese Government carried out its largest ever foreign relief operation and the Chinese people made generous donations in kind and in cash, Hu noted.

"Facts have proven that greater friendship and cooperation between China and Indonesia, two important developing countries in Asia, serves the immediate and long-term interests of both countries and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world at large," said the Chinese president.

He added that the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, signed by Chinese and Indonesian presidents on Monday, has charted out the direction for the future development of bilateral relations.

"Aiming to safeguard world peace and promote common development, China-Indonesia strategic partnership is committed to expanding the two countries' exchanges and cooperation in all fields on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity and mutual benefit," he added.

This partnership is a new type of state-to-state relationship that is non-aligned, non-confrontational and not targeting at any third party.

"We are ready to work with Indonesia to carry forward the Bandung Spirit under the new goal and bring about a still better

future for China-Indonesia relations," said the Chinese president.

Hu is on a state visit to Indonesia after attending the 2005 Asian-African Summit and the Golden Jubilee Commemoration of the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung. He will leave for the Philippines on Tuesday to continue his three-nation Southeast Asian tour.