Indonesia, Guangxi to expand co-op in exclusive economic zone

JAKARTA - The governments of Indonesia and China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region have planned to widen cooperation in building exclusive economic zones in both countries, an Indonesian minister said on Monday.

The plan was unveiled at a meeting between Peng Qinghua, secretary of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region CPC Committee, and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State of Palace.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to set up another economic zone for cooperation in the eastern part of Indonesia, where resources of mineral ores are abundant, Indonesian Industry Minister MS Hidayat told a joint press conference after the meeting.

The Guangxi government was also committed to investing $1.6 billion in mineral exploration in cooperation with Indonesia's state firm PT Aneka Tambang, said Hidayat.

President Yudhoyono expressed his gratitude over China's understanding of Indonesia's policy on the mining sector, expecting the ongoing cooperation can bring benefit for both sides, said Hidayat.

Currently, Indonesia and the plantation and agriculture group from Guangxi are establishing an economic zone in Bekasi on the outskirts of Jakarta, where 30 firms from China, Indonesia and other countries have planned to make investment, said Peng, who is on a three-day visit to Indonesia.

"We will be pleased if Indonesian businessmen are interested in setting up economic zone in Guangxi," he said.

"There are a number of businessmen from Guangxi in my delegation, they will have talks with Indonesian businessmen on (possible) cooperation on energy, mining, agriculture and other sectors," Peng told the press conference.

According to Peng, during the meeting, both sides agreed to boost cooperation in areas of education, culture, technology and environmental conservation.

He also invited Yudhoyono and Indonesian businessmen to attend the 10th Expo in Guangxi.

On the plan to expand the economic zone, Hidayat said that a draft of cooperation for establishing economic zones in the eastern part of the country including Kalimantan and Maluku proivinces has been outlined under the coordination of the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta, involving experts from China and officials at his ministry.

"According to the plan, in the near future, a MoU (on the establishment of the zone) will be signed by G to G (government to government)," said Hidayat.