8-9-2023 (JAKARTA) Chinese Premier Li Qiang held discussions with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday (Sept 8), where both leaders pledged to enhance cooperation and trade, with a particular focus on expanding imports from Southeast Asia’s largest economy, according to Chinese state media reports.
The meeting took place in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, following leaders’ summits earlier this week with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc. Notably, President Xi Jinping had opted not to attend these meetings.
Premier Li conveyed Beijing’s commitment to deepen practical cooperation and strengthen strategic mutual trust with Jakarta. He emphasized the expansion of imports, including bulk commodities, agricultural products, and fishery products, as reported by Xinhua, the state news agency.
Furthermore, Li informed President Widodo of China’s willingness to collaborate on several new flagship projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to elevate bilateral relations to new heights.
In addition to these economic initiatives, the Chinese Premier expressed China’s readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in preparing for the launch of a high-speed railway project financed by Beijing. This railway, scheduled to commence operations later this year after experiencing delays, will connect the capital, Jakarta, to the city of Bandung in Java.
Li had personally tested the train’s operations earlier in the week, accompanied by senior Indonesian minister Luhut Pandjaitan, ahead of its official opening in October.
During the ASEAN plus three summit, which includes China, Japan, and South Korea, President Widodo extended an invitation to Beijing for greater collaboration in developing Indonesia’s electric vehicle industry, as reported by the Indonesian state news agency, Antara.
China remains one of Indonesia’s largest investors, with Jakarta’s government data indicating that Chinese firms injected a significant $8.2 billion into the country last year, more than doubling the 2021 figure of $3.1 billion.
In July, President Widodo met with President Xi in the Chinese city of Chengdu, where the two nations signed agreements covering industry, agriculture, fisheries, e-commerce, and technological innovation.
While they had a sideline meeting at the G20 summit held on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in November, President Xi will not be attending the upcoming summit in New Delhi this weekend.
