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Chinese President Xi Jinping warmly greeted Indonesian President Joko Widodo on his sixth visit to China by affectionately referring to him as "my old friend." This gesture highlighted the deep bond between the two leaders, emphasizing the closely aligned visions and opportunities that China and Indonesia present to each other.
Both countries expressed their commitment to enhancing their strategic cooperation during a meeting. President Xi urged the successful completion of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway (HSR) to boost Indonesia's development and symbolize the strong collaboration between China and Indonesia under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Experts recognized the meeting as a milestone, summarizing the achievements of the 10-year comprehensive strategic partnership and laying a solid foundation for future cooperation. Moreover, 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and both leaders acknowledged opening a new chapter in building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.
President Xi further highlighted that their countries are "like-minded partners and good partners" on their journeys towards national modernization and rejuvenation. This mutual understanding and cooperation serve as strong pillars in strengthening their strategic partnership and fostering a future of shared development and prosperity. The two leaders discussed their visions, which are closely "aligned" and acknowledged that they present opportunities for each other's development.
In recent developments, China pledged support for Indonesia's new capital construction and the development of the North Kalimantan Industrial Park. Both nations also plan to expand cooperation in new energy vehicles, smart cities, and industrial digital transformation.
Furthermore, China expressed willingness to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with the ASEAN to support Indonesia's role as the ASEAN's rotating chair and promote "strategic autonomy and solidarity" within the bloc. To expand the scope, both countries are committed to strengthening communication and coordination through multilateral mechanisms like G20 and BRICS, working towards a shared future for humanity.
Besides other sectors, China's health diplomacy in Indonesia has grown significantly, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a priority focus after economics and trade. With collaborations between the Indonesian government, state-owned enterprises, and Chinese pharmaceutical companies like Sinovac Biotech, the health cooperation between China and Indonesia secured timely access to COVID-19 vaccines for Indonesia. China became a crucial vaccine supplier for Indonesia, with Sinovac's vaccine being the most widely used. In 2020, nearly 40 tons of COVID-19 medical kits were donated by several Chinese investors to Indonesia.
Among other aspects, Indonesia receives many opportunities and large funding from the BRI. China has also emerged as Indonesia's top trading and investment partner in recent years. Chinese companies like Tsingshan, a major stainless-steel producer, and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), a renowned battery manufacturer, have played a pivotal role in the development of Indonesia's nickel-processing sector.
China has become a driving force behind Indonesia's nickel sector, fostering economic growth and technological advancements. This growing partnership between China and Indonesia cements their bilateral relations and opens up exciting opportunities for both nations in the global market.
So, what's in there for other regional countries? This China-Indonesia strategic partnership is important because it can also serve as a model for other developing nations. The cooperation between China and Indonesia reflects a new model of South-South cooperation, demonstrating mutual help and learning for joint development, as shared by Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
A critical factor in maintaining the solid China-Indonesia relationship is the mutual trust and cooperation based on their long-standing ties. Indonesia's President has reiterated Indonesia's commitment to the one-China principle and its willingness to expand cooperation with China in numerous domains. This partnership between China and Indonesia exemplifies unity, collaboration, and shared development between developing nations. With their recent meeting, both leaders aim to bring more certainty and positive energy to their region and the wider world.
Indo-Pacific is a strategically important region; close partnerships and developmental projects with like-minded countries are crucial to further peace and prosperity. This recent visit by President Widodo reflects that China and Indonesia have embraced a strengthened partnership, which will lead to a path to shared development. By embracing cooperation in various fields and supporting each other's visions for growth, the two nations embark on a journey toward shared success and a more interconnected future.
(CGTN)
