The Chinese and Indonesian coastguards held their first senior-level talks this week on boosting maritime security cooperation.
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The two sides discussed topics such as setting up regular meetings at all levels, port calls and capability build-up, the China Coast Guard said on Saturday.
“Both sides believe that it is necessary to further deepen pragmatic maritime cooperation, jointly maintain the order of maritime security and properly deal with maritime emergencies,” its statement said.
The talks took place in Beijing during a visit by Vice-Admiral Irvansyah, chief of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, that began on Tuesday and ended on Saturday and took place at China’s invitation.
“The meeting is not only a symbol of the close relations between both institutions but also a joint commitment to create a safe, peaceful and prosperous maritime region,” he said, according to the Indonesian coastguard.
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The delegation also visited the headquarters of a coastguard unit in the southern city of Guangzhou and inspected operational facilities and a patrol vessel.
China has in recent years stepped up its efforts to engage with Indonesia on the economic and security front amid its growing strategic rivalry with the United States and rising tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea.