THE year 2010 has been declared the Year of China-Indonesia Friendship in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

    But the long history of relations between the two countries can be traced back about 2,000 years to the arrival of ancient Chinese admiral Zheng He in Indonesia.

    The two countries had supported each other in a fight against colonialism and taken essential roles in the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, Indonesia.

    Indonesia was among the first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China. The relationship between the two countries as strategic partners was further advanced in 2005.

    The two countries now have close cooperation in various sectors including trade, technology, art and culture, investment and education.

    (SD-Agencies)