Xi Jinping addresses Indonesian parliament

Chinese President Xi Jinping has wrapped up his trip to Indonesia and arrived in Malaysia for a state visit. Indonesia was the first leg of Xi’s Southeast Asia tour. Earlier in the day, President Xi Jinping delivered a speech to Indonesian lawmakers, expounding China’s vision on further promoting bilateral and China-ASEAN relations, as well as China’s concept of peaceful development in Jakarta. 

Vowing to upgrade bilateral relations, addressing Indonesian lawmakers, President Xi Jinping stressed on the merits of uplifting bilateral ties between the two Asian countries.

Xi Jinping, Chinese President, said, "During this visit, I announced with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in a bid to continue the deep development of relations."

On pushing forward China-ASEAN relations, President Xi said China hopes to see a closer China-ASEAN community.

Xi Jinping, Chinese President, said, "China is willing to work together with Indonesia and other ASEAN countries to be good neighbors, friends and partners who share weal and woe, share together danger and safety and sail in the same boat, and jointly build a closer China-ASEAN community of common destiny."

To that end, President Xi proposed more efforts in the following areas:

First, Xi stressed building trust and developing good-neighborliness. He said China is committed to a relationship of sincerity and friendship with ASEAN countries, adding that ASEAN members should respect each other’s right to independently choose a social system and development path.

Second, Xi urged working for win-win cooperation. The President said China is ready to open up further to ASEAN countries, adding that China is prepared to upgrade the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and strive to expand two-way trade to one trillion US dollars by 2020.

Third, President Xi said China and ASEAN countries should stand together and assist each other. He called for casting away the Cold War mentality and deepening cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, cyber security, combating cross-border crimes and joint law enforcement.

Fourth, Xi called for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship. China has proposed to set 2014 as the year of China-ASEAN cultural exchanges. Xi said more friendly exchanges should be encouraged between youth, think tanks, and parliaments.

In the end, Xi said that China and ASEAN members should stick to openness and inclusiveness, and draw upon the experience of other regions in development.

After his Malaysia visit, Xi will travel back to the Indonesian resort island of Bali for the 21st Informal Economic Leaders’ meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.