Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Tuesday hailed the newly-established China-Indonesia strategic partnership, saying that it will boost "comprehensive cooperation" between the two countries.

The strategic partnership was established during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Indonesia which was concluded Tuesday afternoon.

Qin said the strategic partnership between China and Indonesia had "both regional and international significance."

The spokesman recalled Hu's talks with his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He said Hu had suggested that the strategic partnership be developed by focusing on seven aspects, including more exchange of high-level visits, improving cooperation on economy, security and disaster relief, promoting China-ASEAN relations and the cooperation in East Asia, and improving cooperation among developing nations.

Qin said Hu's suggestions received positive feedback from Susilo. During Hu's Indonesia visit, the two countries signed a series of cooperative agreements.

Hu left Jakarta for Manila for a state visit to the Philippines Tuesday afternoon, the last leg of his three-nation Southeast Asia tour.

When talking about China-Pakistan leaders' meeting in Jakarta, Qin Gang said the recent meeting between the heads of state of China and Pakistan is "significant" for the promotion of a strategic and cooperative partnership between the two countries.

He said China and Pakistan are two developing countries with "traditional good-neighborly relations," and that the meeting between Hu and Musharraf will push forward the strategic and cooperative partnership as well as the cooperation between the two countries.

China, India ties

The meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Jakarta is another important contact between the leaders of the two countries, and will play a positive role in pushing forward bilateral relations, said Qin Gang.

Hu and Singh spoke highly of the recentvisit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to India, and vowed to make joint efforts to push forward bilateral good-neighborly relations of friendship, he said.

President Hu told Singh at the meeting that "China and India should be good neighbors, good friends and good partners," Qin said.

"China-India relations face precious opportunities of development, and both countries should seize the good opportunities and push forward bilateral mutually-beneficial cooperation," Qin quoted Hu as saying.

Qin said Singh agreed to Hu's viewpoint, and said the Indian government is willing to take the opportunity "to establish a strategic partnership toward peace and prosperity, implement the consensus between the two sides and push forward the development of bilateral ties in an around way."

China,Japan should continue high-level exchanges

Commenting on Japanese government's hope that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao would visit Japan during the Aichi Expo 2005, the spokesman said the Chinese government attaches importance to high-level exchanges and contact with Japan, and is willing to create proper condition for it.

Qin said the recent meeting in Indonesia between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, held during a difficult time in Sino-Japanese relations, is "significant" and is "valued" by the two countries. It also drew attention from the international community, he said.

"The two leaders confirmed the importance of the ties, stressed that the two sides should seek a general situation of Sino-Japanese relations and Asia's peace and development, properly handle major issues, especially the historical and Taiwan issue, so as to push forward a healthy and stable development of the relations," he said.

The spokesman said Hu put forward five-point proposal on Sino-Japanese relations, and Koizumi gave a positive response.

"We hope the two sides take the opportunity to take measures toreduce disputes and overcome difficulties to enable Sino-Japanese relations back to a track of healthy and stable development," he said.

US envoy's visit

China welcomes US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill's visit and is ready to exchange views with him on the Korean peninsular nuclear issue and China-US relations, Qin Gang said.

The chief US envoy on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue arrived in Beijing Tuesday after talks with officials of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Seoul to discuss resuming the six-partytalks.

Qin said China's Vice-Foreign Ministers Dai Bingguo, Yang Jiechi and Wu Dawei will meet or hold talks with Hill separately Tuesday afternoon, without giving details.

"We believe it is helpful for China and the United States to improve exchange and communication," he said.

Beijing is the second stop of Hill's three-nation trip that will take him to Japan on Wednesday.

On Monday, Hill held talks with ROK Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon. He also met with President Roh Moo-hyun and Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon.

Three rounds of the six-party talks have been held to try to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korea Peninsula. The talks have been stalled since June last year as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea accused the United States of adopting a hostile policy toward it.

Editor: Yan