JAKARTA - China is pinning hope on youth to cement the already strong friendship with Indonesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia, as Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), sends the signal in his three-day visit to Indonesia.

Speaking to a packed room at University of Indonesia ( Universitas Indonesia) on Friday, Li said China and Indonesia are both brilliant civilizations with a long history, open and inclusive to diversities in their countries.

"Recalling history, we sincerely feel the friendship between China and Indonesia is deeply sealed in our culture and peoples. Consolidating our friendship is the aspiration of the people and the trend of our times, "said Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau.

China and Indonesia will surely become models for harmonious existence and co-development for different civilizations, he said.

He made four proposals to further develop bilateral ties, including enhancing political mutual trust, expanding economic and trade cooperation, boosting people-to-people and cultural exchanges and strengthening coordination within multilateral framework.

"Youth are the backbone of China-Indonesia friendly ties and the future of our bilateral relations, therefore, it is of strategic importance," Li said, expressing China's willingness to create conditions for the exchange and dialogue between the young people of the two countries.

Li announced that China will invite 100 Chinese language teachers in Indonesia to take short-term training in China and 20 Indonesian students to join summer camp in China in 2012. China will invite 100 Indonesian youngsters to visit China each year till 2015.

The hour-long speech was well received by the audience. Yulinda, in her senior year, told Xinhua that she chose Chinese language as her major because of love of China's long history and culture. At the same time, China's rapid development will provide more job opportunities for foreigners like her, she said, adding that she hoped Indonesia and China will relay friendship from generation to generation.

Tiar, who has been to China twice, said China and Indonesia are big countries, and their cooperation will have a great impact on Asia. "Li's speech made me feel our bilateral ties will have a more promising prospect."

During Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to China in March, he and Li met with 100 young Indonesians visiting China. Yudhoyono also expressed hope that the youth of both countries will strengthen exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, learn from each other and work together to create the better future of bilateral relations.

During his stay in Jakarta, Li also visited the Indonesian branch of Huawei and ZTE, two leading Chinese telecommunication corporations. He encouraged the two businesses to increase input into research and development of high technology and narrow the gap with the top-ranking counterparts in the world and set a role model for more Chinese businesses to go abroad.

Li said the two businesses should set a good image for Chinese enterprises, actively engage in the social programs in Indonesia so as to contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

During the trip, Li also attended the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition by international photographers, featuring the reconstruction of China's Sichuan province after the devastating earthquake in 2008, at the National Museum of Indonesia.

Indonesia is the last stop of Li's four-nation tour, which has brought him to Britain, Canada and Colombia.