Thursday , December 5 2024

China & Indonesia sign multiple cooperation deals

11-11-2024

BEIJING/ JAKARTA: Chinese President Xi Jinping signed multiple cooperation deals with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto on Saturday, Chinese state TV CCTV reported, as the two countries seek increased partnerships in key areas.

The deals covered issues including water conservation, maritime resources and mining, the report said, and come ahead of a meeting Prabowo is scheduled to attend on Sunday between Indonesian officials and a number of top Chinese companies, where the Indonesia presidential office said investment agreements worth more than $10 billion will be signed.

In a visit to China by Prabowo just a few weeks after taking office, the two sides also jointly published a statement on “Promoting Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a China-Indonesia Community with a Shared Future”.

Xi told Prabowo on Saturday that China was willing to cooperate with the new Indonesian government to the countries’ mutual benefit, Chinese state media CCTV reported.

China was willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with Indonesia in areas including poverty reduction, medicines, grain cultivation and the fisheries industry, Xi told Prabowo in a meeting in Beijing, CCTV said.

The two countries should “firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests and major concerns,” CCTV reported, citing Xi as saying. They should also enhance cooperation in the digital economy, advanced manufacturing and recycling, the report said.

After winning the Indonesian presidential election earlier this year, the former defence minister and special forces commander picked China as the first country to visit as president elect.

Prabowo’s decision to accept Xi’s invitation to visit China for the second time this year confirms Jakarta’s continued commitment to their strategic ties.

“Under the current complicated global situation, Indonesia hopes to further strengthen all-round strategic coordination with China, and become a closer comprehensive strategic partner with China,” CCTV reported, citing Prabowo as saying. He welcomed Chinese companies to invest in Indonesia, according to CCTV.

China and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in key sectors, including lithium, new energy vehicles, green energy and tourism, according to a joint statement released on Saturday.

The statement followed a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is visiting China through November 10, the first country he has visited since taking office last month.

Prabowo, who won Indonesia’s presidential election in February, also chose China as the first country to visit as president elect, underscoring Jakarta’s commitment to strengthening its strategic ties with Beijing.

“China and Indonesia will work together to cultivate new drivers of global development, exploring cooperation potential in areas such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaics, while seizing opportunities in digital economy and green development sectors,” the statement said.

Both nations also plan to collaborate more closely in the mining sector, leveraging their respective resource endowments and production capacities.

In efforts to revive and surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels, the two countries will introduce new visa measures, including multi-entry long-term visas, and encourage more direct flights and destinations based on demand.

During Prabowo’s visit, both sides signed several cooperation deals, including in housing and the export of fresh coconuts from Indonesia to China. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)

Check Also

South Korean president faces impeachment vote

05-12-2024 SEOUL: South Korean MPs have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after …