- AP Photo/Michel Euler
VIVAnews - Prime Minister of China, Wen Jiabao, is fascinated with Indonesian cultural heritage. In fact, he still remembers a number of popular folk songs from Tapanuli and Ambon, such as "Butet" and "Ayo Mama."
"I had come to know this country when I was very young and could hum the tune of such famous Indonesian folk songs as 'Buteh' [Butet] and 'Ayo Mama,'" said Premier Wen at his office early this week, according to the interview transcript published in the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.
Prior to his official visits to Malaysia and Indonesia this weekend, Premier Wen gave a joint interview to several journalists from both countries in Beijing. He is scheduled to visit Indonesia on 28-30 April 2011.
The 68-year-old premier reminded the press that contacts between Chinese and Indonesian people date back to 2,000 years ago. The eminent Chinese monk Fahien visited Indonesia in the 4th century AD. In the 8th century AD, the eminent Chinese monk Yijing visited Indonesia and during that time, a large number of Chinese started to migrate to Indonesia.
Premier Wen then revealed an interesting conversation with the Indonesia's Speaker of Parliament, Marzuki Alie, when he paid a visit to Beijing a few days ago. "He told me some historical episodes between China and Indonesia. He said that he was born in Sumatra and many of the local Sumatra people look very much like Chinese, and that he thought that he is of Chinese descent too," said Premier Wen.
He also pointed out that the most famous historical episode in our exchanges is the Western Seas voyages by Zheng He, the famous Chinese navigator, a Muslim, in fact, in the early 15th century. He helped build several mosques in Indonesia and some of these mosques are still well preserved.
"I believe the most important and memorable episode in our exchanges in the 20th century is the Bandung Conference," he said. At that time, Premier Zhou Enlai and President Sukarno made tremendous joint efforts for the success of the conference. And the ten important principles for the peaceful coexistence of Asian and African countries were inaugurated there.
"In order to know more about that important historical event, I once paid a special trip to Bandung. I cherish a very fond impression of Indonesia," said Premier Wen.
Batalkan Aksi Relawan Turun ke Jalan Jelang Putusan Sengketa Pilpres di MK, Prabowo Tuai Pujian
Menurut Sekjen AMMI Arip Nurahman, langkah dilakukan Prabowo ini, agar menjaga situasi tetap kondusif serta menghindari terjadinya perpecahan diantara sesama anak bangsa.
