JAKARTA, Indonesia - China will further expand its trade volume with Indonesia in an effort to balance the bilateral trade and to encourage investment, said Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue.

"China is committed to increase domestic consumption on the back of its economic structure adjustment, and Indonesia will benefit from this new trend," Zhang said in an exclusive interview with China Daily on Thursday.

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Zhang said she is "confident that the two countries' economic and trade collaboration will be stepped up through high-level mutual visits".

Premier Wen Jiabao started his two-day state visit to Indonesia on Thursday evening, the first official visit for a Chinese premier to the Southeast Asia's biggest economy in a decade, mainly aiming to strengthen economic and trade ties.

The bilateral trade volume between China and Indonesia soared by 50.6 percent year-on-year in 2010 to hit $42.7 billion, buoyed by China's deepening relations with Indonesia after the two nations established a strategic partnership in 2005.

In the first quarter of this year, the volume of mutual trade continued its strong momentum with a 40-percent increase to a record $12.5 billion. The two countries' trade will surpass $50 billion in 2011 if such strong growth rate continues, Zhang said.

"Out target is to reach $80 billion in mutual trade by 2015," Zhang said.

A series of cooperation pacts were signed during a ceremony on Friday between the two governments and companies from the two countries.

The two nations will boost cooperation in areas of infrastructure, industry, energy, agriculture, marine technology and telecommunications, Zhang said, specifically pointing to joint efforts in developing renewable energy.

Indonesia is striving to cut carbon emissions by developing new energies, in which China hopes to contribute more, Zhang said.

She added that more than 1,000 Chinese companies operate in Indonesia, and the Chinese government will encourage more domestic firms to invest in Indonesia. "Chinese businesses here in Indonesia will create more jobs and improve the manufacturing and agricultural capabilities in Indonesia via our companies' increasing investment."

In addition, as the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Indonesia has also played a critical role in propelling the relations between China and other members.

Zhang also said that China hopes to cement and extend the Sino-Indonesian relations far beyond economic affairs.

The two countries' closer ties also foster sectors including culture, education and tourism. The number of Chinese tourists to Indonesia in 2009, for instance, doubled to about 500,000 in 2010, which marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia.

Beijing and Jakarta will also encourage more exchange of students to each other's countries to enhance mutual understanding among young people, and set up more language courses in Indonesia to help Indonesians learn Chinese.

"Going forward, we will consolidate the strategic partnership between China and Indonesia, and expect stronger relations," Zhang said.