2018年CRI China to increase agricultural imports from Indonesia: premier

Chinese Premier 1 Li Keqiang has issued a promise to increase agricultural imports from Indonesia, including coffee, tropical fruits and edible 2 bird's nests.

As part of his time in Jakarta, he also says China hopes to see substantive 3 breakthroughs made in negotiations 4 on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership 5.

CRI's Yu Yang has more:

The Chinese Premier says Indonesian agricultural products are highly sought after in the Chinese market.

He's noted 6 this, as well as announcing other goals with Indonesia, following a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday in Bogor, a city in the country's province of West Java.

Li Keqiang has also discussed plans to help Indonesia build economic corridors.

He says more Chinese experts and entrepreneurs will be involved helping 7 build up Indonesia's ports, maritime 8 economy, industrial processing and overseas warehouses 9.

Joko Widodo has promised to provide a more convenient business environment for Chinese investment in the Indonesian market.

Li Keqiant's visit to Indonesia started on Sunday, which is the first stop on his first overseas trip since the new Chinese cabinet took office in March.

The visit comes as the two sides mark the 5th anniversary of the creation of the China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Li Keqiang has described China and Indonesia as important neighbors and natural cooperation partners.

"We agreed to continue our relationship in creating peace in accordance with international values and commitments, we are united to safeguard the world's peace and stability. We are important economic entities 10 in the world, we are together to push economic growth and protect free trade, and also give convenience to trade."

For his part, Joko Widodo says his side likes working with China.

"We held a bilateral 11 meeting where we discussed increasing our bilateral relationship to bring about benefits for both countries, as two major countries in the region. I also conveyed that the strategic partnership between Indonesia and China could bring about peace and stability, and benefit the world."

On Monday, the Premier also attended a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the creation of a ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership at the ASEAN Secretariat office in Jakarta.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN has said that the group hopes to work with China toward more innovation and an expansion of the digital economy.

Speaking at the event, Premier Li Keqiang says China wants to work more closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, particularly toward more free trade.

"We hope that the RCEP can achieve substantive breakthroughs this year and create conditions for the free and convenient development of economy, trade, and investment in East Asian countries. We also pledge to the world that we will maintain and promote trade liberalization. China and ASEAN are comprehensive partners who are both inclusive and willing to learn from each other. We will continue to respect the ASEAN countries' choice of development path that suits your own national conditions and write a new chapter of cooperation, sharing, and win-win cooperation with ASEAN."

This past month's ASEAN Summit in Singapore saw the 10-member bloc 12 agree to try to hammer out the details of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The RCEP is meant to be a free trade area among the 10-members of ASEAN, as well as China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.