JAKARTA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia and the United Kigdom will step up military cooperation, Indonesian Military Commander General Djoko Santoso said here Thursday.

    According to a statement issued the by general after meeting with British chief of Defense Staff Air chief Marshal Jock Stirrupat the Defense Ministry office here, Santoso said that among the cooperations between the two sides were military exercise, education and the visits of Indonesian officers to the United Kigdom, especially to the country's military industry.

    He said that both sides will soon set up a team in charge of formulating various concrete policies in the framework of defense cooperation.

    "We agreed to step up and expand fields of cooperation that have been established between the Indonesian military and the British armed forces," Santoso told a joint press conference.

    On his turn, the British chief of Defense Staff said that relations between the two countries had been running well and will be further expanded in the future.

    "The two sides had done many things such as joint exercises and training for both countries (officers),"Stirrup said, adding that cooperation is important for Indonesia and Britain to face global security challenges.

    On weaponry, Stirrup said that he understood Indonesia's military need for sufficient reliable armaments to equip its defense system.

    "We are happy that we can exchange experience on various equipment and armaments such as reconnaissance weaponry," he said.

    Indonesia has faced serious threats of transnational crimes, such as terrorism, illegal fishing and separatist movements.