On March 1, Ambassador Xiao Qian met with Prof. Dwikorita Karnawati, Head of the Indonesian Bureau of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics(BMKG), to exchange views on bilateral cooperation in the field of meteorology, climatology and geophysics. Drs. Untung Merdijanto, Executive Secretary of BMKG, and Drs. Mulyono Rahadi Prabowo, Drs. Herizal and Dr. Muhamad Sadly, Deputies of BMKG attended the meeting.

As remarked by Ambassador Xiao Qian, as two friendly neighbors, China and Indonesia have enjoyed continuous progress in various fields of bilateral cooperation. Both countries are prone to natural disasters. Hence, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as meteorological climate, earthquake warning, tsunami monitoring and early warning is of great significance and benefits for the disaster relief and prevention efforts as well as the protection of people’s livelihood and property. Based on the solid foundation in the above-mentioned cooperation fields, China is ready to work with Indonesia to further expand and elevate bilateral cooperation and explore more potentials, so as to contribute to the socio-economic development of both countries and the well-being of the peoples.

In her remarks, Prof. Dwikorita expressed her gratitude for Chinese Government’s assistance in the earthquake and tsunami-affected areas, and spoke highly of the progress of bilateral cooperation in meteorological climate, earthquake and tsunami monitoring and early warning. She expressed her desire to further strengthen cooperation in the above-mentioned fields through data sharing, capacity building, joint research, equipment update and mutual learning so as to intensify disaster reduction and prevention efforts and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.