China and Indonesia signed seven documents on Nov 28 to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges during Vice-Premier Liu Yandong’s visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Liu and Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani witnessed the signing of the deals after they co-hosted the third meeting of the China-Indonesia people-to-people exchange mechanism at the vice-premier level in Solo, Indonesia.

The meeting was held as China has become Indonesia’s largest source of foreign tourists, with more than 2 million visits made between the two countries last year.

Liu and Puan co-chaired the mechanism’s first and second meetings, in 2015 and 2016, which included senior officials from ministries and departments in charge of areas such as foreign affairs, education and science.

The exchange, the first of its kind between China and a Southeast Asian country, plays a leading and exemplary role in promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries and within the region, Liu said at the meeting.

On Nov 27, Liu met with Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. She said China is ready to promote the synergy of development strategies with Indonesia and boost mutually beneficial cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road.

China is willing to further deepen exchanges and cooperation with Indonesia in fields like education, technology, culture, sports, tourism and youth, and lay a solid foundation of social and public opinion for the development of the bilateral strategic partnership, Liu said.

Kalla conveyed his congratulations on the success of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, saying that the Party congress was of great importance not only for the future development of China, but also for the development of Indonesia and for China-Indonesia relations.

Also on Nov 27, Liu met with Le Luong Minh, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and permanent representatives of the 10 ASEAN countries.

China and ASEAN should boost strategic integration and create a closer community of a shared future, Liu said.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, Liu said China-ASEAN ties have developed into the most dynamic and substantive among ASEAN’s relations with its dialogue partners.

China has been ASEAN’s largest trading partner for eight consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China’s third-largest trading partner for six consecutive years.