The China-Indonesia bilateral meeting is a source of hope, radiating positive energy in regards to stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific. Relations between the two countries continue to mature.
By
LUKI AULIA, FROM BEIJING, CHINA
·5 minutes read
PANG XINGLEI/XINHUA VIA AP
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, pose for a photo during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Widodo on Tuesday formally invited Xi Jinping to the Group of 20 summit in Bali this fall, although it's unclear whether the Chinese leader would attend in person.
BEIJING, KOMPAS – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday (26/7/2022) to strengthen bilateral cooperation and increase efforts to address global issues. The warm welcome and joyful atmosphere reflected the maturing relations between the two countries.
President Jokowi referred to China as Indonesia’s comprehensive-strategic partner. Therefore, this partnership must be filled with cooperation that is mutually beneficial to both countries, as well as their regions and the world. Prior to meeting President Xi, President Jokowi met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to discuss increasing trade between the two countries, including palm oil imports and other agricultural products from Indonesia.
A press statement released by the Chinese government, said President Xi, claimed that China and Indonesia are at the same stage of development, have shared interests, follow similar philosophies and development paths and have a closely related future. Building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future is the aspiration of the two nations.
“China will work with Indonesia to enhance strategic mutual trust and support each other to maintain sovereignty, security and development interests in growing the economy and improving the people’s living standards,” said Xi.
Xi said both parties needed to further deepen the Belt and Road Initiative. Indonesia and China must also immediately complete the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway in accordance to a high standard and as scheduled. Both countries must also ensure that other cooperation projects also continue to run, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” cooperation.
China will support Indonesia in establishing a regional-vaccine-production center and increase public-health cooperation with Indonesia. China is also willing to import more commodities and quality agricultural products and by-products from Indonesia.
“China will actively participate in the development of Indonesia’s new capital city and the industrial area of North Kalimantan, expand cooperation in the development of finance and foster new growth drivers in the digital economy and green development,” Xi said.
In a statement following the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said China’s commitment to increasing green-economic cooperation was illustrated by, among others, the construction of the Green Industrial Park in North Kalimantan. “President Xi also highlighted China’s commitment to increasing imports of Indonesian agricultural products,” she added.
Maintaining solidarity
In addition to bilateral cooperation, President Jokowi and President Xi also discussed regional and global issues, including the G20 Summit to be held in Bali this November. “As the country with the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is important to China and its regions. Especially now that Indonesia is president of the G20 and will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year,” said Retno.
LAILY RACHEV/INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE VIA AP
In this photo released by the Press and Media Bureau of the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during their meeting in Beijing, China, Tuesday, July, 26, 2022. Widodo arrived in Beijing on Monday night on the first stop of a trip that will also take him to Japan and South Korea later this week.
As quoted from the Chinese government’s statement, in facing the changes of this world, China and Indonesia need to maintain solidarity, fulfill the responsibilities of major developing countries, adhere to true multilateralism, uphold open regionalism and contribute to oriental wisdom. China fully supports Indonesia as the host of the G20 Summit in Bali and will increase coordination and cooperation with Indonesia to make the event a success. China also fully supports Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship next year and will increase solidarity and coordination with ASEAN.
A Chinese editorial in the Global Times, on Tuesday, said there are great common interests and much room for China-Indonesia cooperation. This cooperation will bring tangible benefits to both countries and their people.
For one, Chinese companies are investing in nickel mines in Indonesia and helping them turn into fast-growing stainless-steel producers. Meanwhile, Chinese companies are also getting a return on their investments.
Thus, it is not difficult to understand why trade between the two countries has grown despite the pandemic. Bilateral-trade volume reached US$120 billion in 2021, up 58.6 percent. This is the highest increase among ASEAN countries. China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner for nine consecutive years.
Tsinghua University’s National Strategy Institute research director, Qian Fend, told Chinese national-media outlet CGTN on Monday (25/7) that President Jokowi’s visit to China was important to deepen mutual trust and establish practical and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, especially in the face of global crises. Over the past few years, relations between the two countries have matured, especially in the trade sector.
“The world is in a complicated and chaotic state. There is the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, the food crisis and inflation that any country would have difficulty in dealing with alone. For that, we need to join hands,” Qian said.
However, the issue, according to Qian, is that there are certain parties who seek to be politically exclusive, encouraging separation and cutting off supply chains, provoking confrontation and encouraging competition over power. This ultimately puts a large number of countries in the Asia Pacific, including Indonesia, in an awkward position. Historically, as Asia’s superpowers, said Qian, China and Indonesia opposed imperialism and hegemony, instead encouraging solidarity and cooperation among developing nations.
The world is in a complicated and chaotic state. There is the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, the food crisis and inflation that any country would have difficulty in dealing with alone. For that, we need to join hands.
An observer of China at Gadjah Mada University’s faculty of social and political sciences, Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro, explained that President Jokowi’s visit to China showed that Indonesia is a player that cannot be underestimated in the US-China rivalry. Indonesia will use its strategic position to fulfill as many national interests as possible, independent of pressure from the two large countries.
In addition, it is important to note that the visit was made at the invitation of President Xi. This means that China had its own interests, perhaps to ensure that China’s trade and investment in Indonesia will be maintained after the 2024 presidential election. In terms of this economic interest, President Jokowi’s arrival was also aimed at seeking more trade commitments and investment opportunities from China, especially in the new capital city.
President Jokowi also sought widespread support for the success of the G20 Summit. Amid Western tensions with Russia, China’s support means a lot to Indonesia. (INA)
