REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING - China seems very enthusiast to maintain cooperation with many countries. The latest engagement in economy, China succeeds to open free trade area (FTA) with ASEAN. And now, Indonesia and China have agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation and the main concern is on defence industry. The commitment to enhance defense industry will be the main topic in the meeting agenda between Indonesian Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Chinese Minister of Defense Gen Liang Guanglie in Beijing next week, the spokesman of Indonesian Ministry of Defense Brig Gen Hartind Asrin says recently.

“We have a lot of cooperation, for example in education and the training of officer exchanges. We are also trying some defense industry cooperation,” Asrin said.

Both countries have conducted defense cooperation for quite a long time. They held the first consultation forum in Jakarta in 2006 and followed by bilateral consultation forum in Beijing in 2007. The forums enable both countries to strengthen defense cooperation. It is proved by the signing of Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Indonesia and China in 2007.

Although the DCA ratification is still on progress in Indonesia, Purnomo expects the bilateral consultation forum of two countries is preceded as a way of enhancing bilateral relationship in defense cooperation. During his visit, Purnomo is planning to pay a courtesy call on Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Li Keqiang. He will also visit Chinese rocket and guided missile company ALIT (Aerospace Long March International Trade and Co. Ltd) and China Precision Machinery Import-Export Cooperation related to C-705 guided missile ordered by Indonesian Navy.

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