29-3-2024 (JAKARTA) Beijing’s foreign ministry disclosed on Friday that Indonesian President-Elect Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to make his inaugural visit to China next week, marking his first official trip to a crucial trade partner in Jakarta since his electoral triumph.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced that upon the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Prabowo, slated to assume office later this year, will embark on a visit to China spanning from Sunday to Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Xi conveyed his felicitations to Prabowo, who currently serves as Indonesia’s Minister of Defence, on his electoral victory, emphasizing the significance of bilateral relations with the sprawling archipelago nation, home to nearly 280 million people.
Indonesia has seen substantial inflows of foreign direct investment from China, with Beijing emerging as one of the primary sources of such capital. Notably, last year witnessed the inauguration of Southeast Asia’s inaugural high-speed rail line, a mammoth undertaking underwritten by Beijing.
Chinese firms have channelled significant investments into Indonesia’s natural resources, particularly in the lucrative nickel sector. However, this surge in investment has stirred discontent among the local populace, with grievances over remuneration and labour conditions at various nickel-processing facilities financed by Chinese interests.
The Indonesian government is aggressively positioning itself to play a pivotal role in the global supply chain for electric vehicles, intensifying its efforts to bolster the nickel industry.
