Chinese FM eyes new prospect for China-Indonesia ties

BEIJING, July 26(Xinhua) -- A new prospect for China-Indonesia relations isexpected to be explored under the Belt and Road Initiative, ChineseForeign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

The heads ofstate of the two countries have reached consensus on developmentstrategies and closer cooperation on the China-proposed initiative,Wang said in a phone conversation with Indonesian Foreign MinisterRetno Marsudi.

For his part,Retno said Indonesia hopes to deepen mutually beneficialcooperation with China and work together to safeguard regionalpeace and stability.

Tensions betweenIsraelis and Palestinians were also raised in the telephoneconversation.

Retno said thatthe current Palestinian-Israeli situation is worrying, and theinternational community expects China, which holds the rotatingpresidency of the UN Security Council this month, to play a furtherrole in easing the tense situation.

Wang reiteratedthat Palestine's just rights should be respected and called onrelevant parties to exercise restraint and create conditions foreasing tensions and restoring dialogue.

ChinesePresident Xi Jinpingput forward a new four-point proposal on thePalestinian issue during his talks with Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas earlier this month, Wang said.

Palestine andIsrael should strive to establish a relationship in which bothsides could benefit, said Wang.

China is willingto continue to play a positive role in resolving the currentPalestinian-Israeli conflict, Wang said.