On behalf of their respective governments, Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono signed in Beijing Wednesday an agreement on defense cooperation between the two countries.

 

The agreement was signed after Cao and Juwono held talks at the Chinese Defense Ministry, according to the Ministry's foreign affairs office, without giving details on the agreement.

 

Cao told Juwono during their talks that China is ready to work together with Indonesia to promote the comprehensive development of relations between the two countries and two armed forces, in a bid to bring benefit to the two peoples.

 

Cao hailed the continuous development of friendly cooperation between China and Indonesia in political, economic, military and cultural fields.

 

He said Indonesia is the first of ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states to establish strategic partnership with China.

 

Juwono said Indonesia attaches great importance to the strategic partnership with China and hopes to deepen cooperation in various fields and coordination on international affairs.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2007)