Senior Chinese military official meets with Indonesian Defense Minister Guo Boxiong (R), vice chairman of the Central Military Commiss...

Senior Chinese military official meets with Indonesian Defense Minister

Guo Boxiong (R), vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, meets with Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 20, 2012. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Senior military official Guo Boxiong met Monday with visiting Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, pledging closer military cooperation with the southeast Asian country.

Guo, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, hailed the development of bilateral ties between the two neighbors over the last 62 years.

China and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in April 1950. In 2005, the two nations signed a joint declaration that designated their relationship as a "strategic partnership," boosting their ties to a new stage of development.

"In recent years, both nations have witnessed increased exchanges in defense and security, enhanced political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation," Guo said.

Guo said China is willing to make joint efforts with Indonesia to tap their potential and boost cooperation in order to advance their strategic partnership in a sustainable way and promote the peace, stability and prosperity of southeast Asia.

Purnomo said Indonesia attaches great importance to its cooperation with China, including defense-related ties. He gave a positive appraisal of the development of bilateral ties between the two nations and their militaries, according to a news release from the Chinese side.

Indonesia is ready to work with China to deepen their strategic partnership and safeguard peace and security in the region, the release said.

Defense Minister Liang Guanglie held talks with Purnomo earlier Monday, exchanging views on bilateral ties and relations between the two countries' militaries.