At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President  Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia visited China from July 25 to 26. During the visit, the two presidents held talks and reached a series of important common understandings. The two sides issued a Joint Press Statement on the Bilateral Meeting between President of the People’s Republic of China and President of the Republic of Indonesia. They also signed an MOU on jointly promoting cooperation between the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative and the Global Maritime Fulcrum, and other cooperation documents covering such areas as vaccine, green development, cyber security and ocean.

The visit attracted great attention of domestic and foreign media. President Widodo is the first foreign head of state to visit China after the Beijing Winter Olympics, and China is also the first stop of Widodo's first trip to East Asia, reflecting that China and Indonesia attach great importance to the strategic nature of the bilateral relations. The joint press statement issued and a series of cooperation documents signed by the two sides demonstrated that this was a fruitful visit. It highlighted the irreplaceable strategic leading role of the head-of-state diplomacy in the development of bilateral relations and the strategic height of China-Indonesia friendly relationship, which injected strong impetus into the efforts to build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.　　

Jointly building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future　　

The two presidents have decided on the general direction of building the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, which was the most important political outcome reached during the visit. Both China and Indonesia are major developing countries and important emerging economies sharing broad common interests and propositions. In recent years, China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership has been deepened. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation has kept growing despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of bilateral trade between China and Indonesia exceeded $120 billion in 2021, an increase of 58.6% from last year, ranking first among ASEAN countries. China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner for 9 consecutive years.

During the pandemic, China took the lead in offering assistance to Indonesia and working together with Indonesia on the R&D of COVID vaccines and medicines. President Widodo was the first Indonesian to receive China’s Sinovac vaccines. The two countries have stood together and extended helping hands to each other, setting a good example of major developing countries seeking strength through unity, mutual benefit and South-South cooperation. After years of development, the two countries have established a new pattern of bilateral cooperation through the “four-wheel drive” of political, economic, cultural and maritime affairs. In future, the pattern will be further developed under the guidance of jointly building a community with a shared future.

Going forward, the two countries will conduct in-depth and high-quality cooperation through the synergy of Belt and Road Initiative and Global Maritime Fulcrum. Both sides will also strive for the completing the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed Railway and other flagship projects to high standards, and accelerate the implementation of such cooperation projects as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and the “Two Countries, Twin Parks”. With these efforts, trade and investment will be expanded to promote the deep integration of industrial and supply chains. Both sides will work together to implement the Global Development Initiative, promote the construction of projects such as the North Kalimantan Industrial Park, and expand cooperation in digital economy and green development. China and Indonesia will jointly focus on development and gather momentum for the global recovery.  

Under the joint guidance of the two presidents, the China-Indonesia relationship has enjoyed robust growth, demonstrating great resilience and vitality. The general direction of building the China-Indonesia community with a shared future during the visit will undoubtedly bring more positive energy and stability to the turbulent and insecure world.　　

Reaching important common understandings on cooperation in regional and global governance　　

President Xi pointed out that facing changes in the world that are unfolding in ways like never before, China and Indonesia need to stand together in solidarity, fulfill the responsibilities of major developing countries, follow true multilateralism, uphold open regionalism, and contribute Oriental wisdom and Asia’s input to the development of global governance. President Xi also expressed that China fully supports Indonesia in hosting the G20 Bali Summit and Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship next year and welcomes Indonesia’s continued active participation in “BRICS Plus” cooperation. Indonesia supports and attaches importance to the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. As ASEAN rotating chair next year, Indonesia is ready to make active efforts for the growth of ASEAN-China relations, and implement consensus reached on China-ASEAN Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, with a focus on the five proposals on building our home together. The two presidents agreed to uphold open regionalism and safeguard ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture.

In the world today, the trends of turbulence and transformation are evolving, which have impacted the discussion and implementation of agendas on some multilateral platforms and the global recovery. Viewed in such a context, as the hosting countries of the 14th BRICS Summit and the G20 Bali Summit respectively, China and Indonesia will jointly spread “Asia’s voice” in multilateral arenas that developing countries are seeking strength through unity and present “Asia’s moment” of global governance. The two countries will continue to work together to shape a global governance system and institutional environment that are more just and equitable, actively safeguard common interests of developing countries and the international community, and fulfil the responsibilities of major developing countries.

From comprehensive strategic partners to a community with a shared future, the development of China-Indonesia relations shows that the two countries have similar ideals and beliefs in seeking happiness for their people, and common views on regional and global governance, demonstrating strong vitality and boundless potential of the bilateral relations. It is believed that under the strategic guidance of the two Heads of State and in the general direction of building the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, the China-Indonesia relations will make new progress and more contributions to greater benefits of the two peoples, solidarity and collaboration of developing countries, as well as long-term peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Source: Xinhua