(Unofficial Translation)
                                                                                                       
                                                                          Beijing, August 17, 2001


JAKARTA
President of the Republic of Indonesia
H.E. Megawati Soekarnoputri

Your Excellency,

   On the occasion of the 56th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, on behalf of the Chinese people and in my own name, I have the honour to extend to Your Excellency and, through Your Excellency to the Indonesian people, my sincere congratulations and best wishes.
   China and Indonesia are friendly neighbouring countries. The friendship between the Chinese and Indonesian people dates back to ancient times. Over the recent years, with the concerted efforts of both sides, the friendly exchange and cooperation in political, economic, trade and other fields between our two countries have achieved great progress. At the turn of the centuries, our two countries signed the Joint Statement on the Future Directions of Bilateral Cooperation, which points out the orientation of the long-term development of the Sino-Indonesian relations. I would like to join with Your Excellency in exerting unremitting efforts for the continuous promotion of the relationship of good-neighbourliness, mutual trust and all-round cooperation between China and Indonesia.
   May the Republic of Indonesia enjoy prosperity and its people well-being.
   May Your Excellency enjoy good health.


     
                                                                                   Jiang Zemin
                                                                                 President of the
                                                                   People’s Republic of China