The website of The President of The Republic of Indonesia writes that President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, on Tuesday (17/10/23.) In the meeting which was preceded by an official welcoming ceremony, President Jokowi raised four things, starting from investment cooperation to cooperation between communities.
First, President Jokowi conveyed efforts to increase investment cooperation, especially for EV and automotive batteries, spare parts factories, petrochemical refineries, steel production, and developing Halal Center cooperation. The President also encouraged follow-up cooperation in developing the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” economic corridor.
“For the development of the Indonesian Capital City, I hope that China can become a strategic partner,” said the President.
Second, regarding trade and finance, the President expressed his appreciation for bilateral trade which continues to grow and be balanced.
“In the future, we need to continue to push for protocol updates and an increase in the import quota for swallow’s nests and additional types of export products such as fisheries, agriculture and tropical fruit,” suggested the President.
Regarding financial cooperation, President Jokowi expressed his support for the plan to establish local currency transactions via QR cross border to facilitate export-import and investment.
Third, regarding energy security, President Jokowi said that currently Indonesia is accelerating the addition of new renewable energy (EBT) generators of 60GW until 2040. President Jokowi also hopes for PRC support to implement the Indonesia-PRC collaborative electricity cooperation, this is because energy security is an area of cooperation that is considered to be able to continue to be strengthened between the two countries.
Fourth, President Jokowi also encouraged an increase in tourists from both countries. President Jokowi mentioned a number of steps, starting from increasing the frequency of direct flights between Indonesia and China, to increasing scholarships and vocational training for Indonesian students.
“As well as implementing village cooperation through increasing the capacity of Indonesian village heads,” said the President.
Reuters are reporting that in October, the president inaugurated a USD 7.3-billion high-speed railway connecting the country’s capital with the city of Bandung, which is one of the president’s flagship infrastructure projects and part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but it has faced problems ranging from land procurement issues, pandemic-related delays and ballooning costs.
Xi labeled the high-speed railway a “golden brand” of China-Indonesia cooperation in building the Belt and Road, in his talks with Widodo, who has made trips to China over the past few months, report Reuters.
President Jokowi said Indonesia regards China as an important strategic partner in national economic development and construction, and “looks forward to further strengthening communication and cooperation with China,” state media reported.
Xi said the two sides should work closely together to safeguard the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) centrality, promote open regionalism, and demonstrate the responsibility of major developing countries.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the current world situation, including the situation in Gaza. Indonesia and China share the same view regarding the importance of efforts to de-escalate the situation and focus on humanitarian issues, according to the website of The President of The Republic of Indonesia.
Also accompanying the President at the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises as Ad Interim Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Erick Thohir, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun.
Source: The President of The Republic of Indonesia website, BPMI Setpres, Reuters
Photo: BPMI Setpres/ Laily Rachev
