China and Indonesia have pledged to boost bilateral ties at the fifth China-Indonesia deputy prime ministerial bilateral dialogue mechanism meeting held in Beijing. The pledge for deeper ties comes despite the recent flare up between the two countries over South China Sea issue.

The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Indonesia's Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan. During the meeting both countries agreed to enhance security cooperation in the fields of defense, anti-terrorism, law enforcement and drug control.     

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In addition, both countries also agreed to strengthen marine cooperation on the basis of mutual respect.

After the meeting, Panjaitan said that Indonesia is willing to make mutual efforts with China to enhance cooperation in political, economic and security issues.

However, Panjaitan said that Indonesia is a sovereign country and would not take dictations from other countries over South China Sea issue.

Last month, China and Indonesia were locked in a bitter diplomatic row over South China Sea issue. The dispute arise after Indonesian maritime officials captured a Chinese trawler in the disputed South China Sea region, alleging that trawler had trespassed into its jurisdiction.  

The row escalated further after Jakarta summoned the Chinese ambassador and vowed to prosecute all the eight trawler members.

China is staking claim over a large part of the South China Sea. The area is also being claimed by several smaller neighbors of China including Indonesia.

Tagschina, Indonesia, South China Sea, Yang Jiechi, Luhut Panjaitan