JAKARTA - China and Indonesia should cooperate to defend the interests of developing nations as they work to enhance bilateral ties, China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said during a visit here Thursday.

Yang was on his first visit to Indonesia as China's top diplomat and met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the presidential palace.

"It's necessary for the two nations, as big countries, to cooperate in order to defend the interests of developing countries," Yang told reporters after their talks.

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous nation.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono(R) welcomes Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi

Yang also said the countries had agreed to cooperate in the energy and infrastructure sectors, and that they would work to have more exchange visits between high-level officials "to boost a strategic partnership.

"I stressed during talks with the Indonesian president that China acknowledges Indonesia's important role on the international scene," he said, noting this was one of the first countries he has visited as foreign minister.

Yang was appointed to his post in April.