On July 24, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid met visiting Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao in the Presidential House. The two sides enjoyed a warm and friendly dialogue.

Vice-President Hu Jintao conveyed to President Wahid warm greetings from Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji. He said China and Indonesia were two close neighbors with a tradition of friendship dating back long into the history. Ever since President Wahid's state visit to China last year, the two countries started to reap breakthrough developments in all areas of cooperation and the bilateral relations hence entered into a brand-new chapter of historical era. Vice-President Hu said that agreements reached by the two heads of state are undergoing the implementation process. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia. With the personal attention of the two heads of state, the Sino-Indonesian relationship exhibited an unprecedentedly rosy prospect.

He conveyed his gratitude to the Indonesian government for the longtime precious support given to China in the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the "One China" policy Indonesian government had been following to support China's reunification course. He hoped that the two sides could continue maintaining close cooperation and mutual support in safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity and in keeping off the external intervention and making joint efforts to push for the establishment of a new world political and economic order and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

Vice-President Hu also expressed his appreciation for the ethnic reconciliation policy pursued by President Wahid and his government. He said that ethnic Chinese were one of the members of the Indonesian ethnic family and he hoped that all ethnic groups of Indonesia could lead a harmonious coexistence and contribute to the economic and social development of the country.

President Wahid extended his heartfelt welcome to Vice-President Hu Jintao and his entourage, and asked Vice-President Hu to convey his warm greetings and best wishes to President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji. He said his government and himself would always stick to a friendly policy towards China. The Indonesian people, especially the business circle, were most willing to enhance all forms of mutually beneficial cooperation with China. The amicable feeling among the peoples of the two nations would be deepened and renewed through such cooperation.

Wahid also contended that Indonesia believed there was only one China in the world and Indonesia supported Chinese Government's position on Taiwan and Tibet.

July 24, 2000