Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and China plan to cooperate in manufacturing defence equipment and are looking at other measures to expand military ties, the defence ministers of the two countries said on Wednesday.
Beijing and Jakarta have enjoyed closer ties in recent years, particularly since the fall in 1998 of former Indonesian president Suharto, who was aligned more with the West during the Cold War era, as well as growing business links.
"We expect to cooperate in building defence equipment, especially in transportation. For example, transport planes and ships," Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono said after talks with visiting Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan.
"The financing will be discussed further by two governments and related ministries," he added.
Cao said the aim of his visit was to strengthen cooperation.
"We also discussed future ways to promote further and enhance the military and defence relations between our two sides," Cao was quoted by Reuters as saying. "Besides, we can also promote cooperation in the field of training of military personnel."
The two ministers agreed to set up a committee to look into expanding cooperation.
China said last year it would boost defence spending by 17.8 percent to about $45 billion.
Indonesia aims to overhaul its military with around half of its equipment ageing.
Jakarta turned to Russia and East European countries for weapons several years ago when it was under an arms embargo by the United States. Washington later restored military ties and lifted the arms embargo as a reward for Jakarta's cooperation
with Washington in fighting Islamic militants.
Indonesia last year agreed a deal to purchase 10 transport helicopters, five assault helicopters, 20 amphibious tanks and two submarines from Russia, which will provide state credit facilities. (*)
Beijing and Jakarta have enjoyed closer ties in recent years, particularly since the fall in 1998 of former Indonesian president Suharto, who was aligned more with the West during the Cold War era, as well as growing business links.
"We expect to cooperate in building defence equipment, especially in transportation. For example, transport planes and ships," Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono said after talks with visiting Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan.
"The financing will be discussed further by two governments and related ministries," he added.
Cao said the aim of his visit was to strengthen cooperation.
"We also discussed future ways to promote further and enhance the military and defence relations between our two sides," Cao was quoted by Reuters as saying. "Besides, we can also promote cooperation in the field of training of military personnel."
The two ministers agreed to set up a committee to look into expanding cooperation.
China said last year it would boost defence spending by 17.8 percent to about $45 billion.
Indonesia aims to overhaul its military with around half of its equipment ageing.
Jakarta turned to Russia and East European countries for weapons several years ago when it was under an arms embargo by the United States. Washington later restored military ties and lifted the arms embargo as a reward for Jakarta's cooperation
with Washington in fighting Islamic militants.
Indonesia last year agreed a deal to purchase 10 transport helicopters, five assault helicopters, 20 amphibious tanks and two submarines from Russia, which will provide state credit facilities. (*)
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