WNAM REPORT: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China and Indonesia will enhance cooperation to create new flagships for connectivity and join hands to accelerate the modernization process of the two countries.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Beijing on Monday.
The two foreign ministers held the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Beijing on Monday morning.
Wang said the first-ever ministerial meeting of foreign and defense ministers achieved fruitful results, elevating political, security and defense cooperation between the two countries to a new height.
Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, Wang said both countries have important opportunities for their respective development and bilateral relations.
China has always regarded Indonesia as a fellow traveler in development and a good partner in cooperation, Wang said, adding that China is willing to work with Indonesia to accelerate the modernization process of both countries and contribute to the prosperity and stability of the region and the world.
The Chinese foreign minister said both China and Indonesia should focus on high-quality cooperation, enhance the alignment of Chinese modernization with the vision of “Golden Indonesia 2045,” and use the high-quality joint construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative to promote the sustainable operation of landmark projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. He also called for relying on the “Two Countries, Two Parks” initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor to create new flagships for connectivity and cooperation.
Both sides should safeguard free trade, promote the facilitation of two-way trade and investment, and build a safe, stable and unobstructed production and supply chain, Wang added.
Noting that China is willing to import more Indonesian products, Wang said China hopes the Indonesian government will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese-funded institutions and personnel in Indonesia.
Both China and Indonesia should develop emerging industries and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, digital economy, green development, low-altitude economy, marine and fishery industries, and foster and expand new productive forces, Wang said.
He also said both sides should expand cooperation for the benefit of the people, actively carry out collaboration in areas such as food and agriculture, health, poverty reduction and relief, disaster prevention and mitigation, and rural revitalization. Wang called for closer exchanges in culture, education, tourism and youth to consolidate the foundation of friendship between China and Indonesia for generations to come.
Noting that this year also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, Wang said that against the backdrop of the United States launching a global trade war and economic globalization facing headwinds, China and Indonesia, as major developing countries and key forces in the “Global South,” are both defenders of economic globalization and trade liberalization.
Both China and Indonesia should enhance mutual trust and cooperation, jointly promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, defend international fairness and justice, send signals of unity and openness to the outside world, and further demonstrate the regional and global influence of China-Indonesia relations.
Also hailing the first-ever ministerial meeting of foreign and defense ministers held in the morning as “a success,” Sugiono said China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment.
Indonesia has always regarded China as one of its most important partners, and the relations between the two countries have maintained a strong momentum of development over the years, said the Indonesian foreign minister.
Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Sugiono said Indonesia attaches great importance to and is committed to comprehensively deepening its relations with China.
Sugiono said Indonesia looks forward to close exchanges at all levels with China and to expanding practical cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, investment, agriculture and fisheries, health, clean energy, and scientific and technological innovation. He also emphasized the importance of enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges, continuously strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and promoting the realization of more dynamic and resilient regional common development and prosperity.
Both China and Indonesia also agreed to jointly implement the cooperation document on joint maritime development signed by the two governments.
