JAKARTA: Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday.



Megawati said as quoted by Antara news agency that her meeting with Xi was part of efforts to improve relations between the two countries.



'We spoke about how to set up a firm basis for the comprehensive strategic partnership that has been agreed by the two countries and to define more concrete steps that could benefit both parties,' Megawati said after the meeting.



Indonesia and China, she said, could develop cooperation in several areas, especially in the maritime sector.



'China has the 21st Century Maritime Silk Route project, and we have the maritime axis project. This is a very good opportunity for Indonesia to develop by considering opportunities that fit our needs,' the former president said.



She added that in the event that China agreed to expand its role in Indonesia, it would focus on the eastern part of the country.



'We want this cooperation to also be able to help promote the eastern Indonesian region,' she said.



Before meeting Xi, Megawati held a series of meetings with senior figures in the Chinese Communist Party as well as speaking in a panel titled 'Political Leadership: New Consensus for Politics Party'

at the forum of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

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