Sunday, August 17, 2008

Indonesia celebrates Independence Day

The 63rd anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day was solemnly performed with a flag hoisting at the National Palace on Sunday.

The ceremony, which was led by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, was a spectacle of the greatest respect and honor for the flag and the republic.

The ceremony was attended by the cabinet, military brass, family members of the current and preceding presidents, diplomatic corps and honored guests. Eleven-year-old Nada Lutfiyyah, an Aceh tsunami survivor who lost her parents in the 2004 disaster Nada Lutfiyyah and her pen pal Maggie Hamilton, 12, of Michigan, the United States, were sitting in the front row of the invited guests.

On the occasion, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue congratulated the Indonesian government and the people on the success made over the years after gaining independence from the Dutch in 1945.

"We highly valued the progress made by the Indonesian government, not only in economic development but also social progress," she told Xinhua.

Indonesia is one of the major neighboring countries of China, and the Chinese government has shared very good relations and cooperation with it.

"We would like to continue, consolidate and promote this relationship," she said.

Source: Xinhua

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