Indonesia says welcomes Chinese businesses in infrastructure construction

BEIJING, Nov. 9 -- Indonesia welcomes Chinese enterprises' participation in building infrastructure and industrial parks in the country, its new President Joko Widodo said here Sunday.

During a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Joko, who is here to attend annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the two leaders underlined mutual trust and pledged closer economic and trade ties.

China stands ready to expand bilateral trade, investment and strengthen energy, agricultural cooperation with Indonesia, Li told Joko.

Li said China encourages domestic companies to participate in the construction of infrastructure projects like ports, bridges, airports, roads and power plants in Indonesia.

China is also willing to increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges with Indonesia to maintain the friendship generation after generation, Li said.

He voiced hopes that Indonesia can continue to play a positive role in promoting the strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Indonesia is an important member.

Joko said the Indonesian new government is committed to strengthening mutual trust and friendship and enhancing mutually-beneficial relations with China.