08/24/08 06:22

Beijing, (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and China have similarities in their efforts to enhance the existing good trade ties for which many companies from the two countries have made trade contacts, a minister said.

"The two nations have similarities in their efforts to step up the long-standing trade relations," visiting Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Saturday.

The minister was here to accompany Vice President Jusuf Kalla during a three-day visit August 22-24.

Mari said the main mission of her visit in Beijing was to hold talks with her Chinese counterpart, Chen Deming, on the plan of action to enhance trade and investment ties as well as multilateral issues such as the Doha Round.

The meeting would also focus on the two countries` food security which came under the spotlight a few months ago after they rejected each other`s imported goods, she said.

"The issue of food security will also be high in the agenda of the meeting although the issue has already been included in the ASEAN plus China`s program," she said.

The minister further said more and more Chinese furniture companies had established cooperation with their Indonesian counterparts.

Through the cooperation, Indonesia expected the Chinese furniture makers not only to import logs from Indonesia but also to produce furniture in Indonesia for exports to China and other countries, she said.

"With the cooperation, we hope Indonesian wood products will have special added value and attract foreign companies to invest in Indonesia," she said.(*)

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