Chinese President Xi Jinping praised China’s strong ties with Indonesia during a meeting Monday with President-elect Prabowo Subianto. Xi laid plans for regional peace and affirmed China’s commitment to deepen maritime cooperation with Indonesia.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi told Prabowo that bilateral ties “have entered a new stage of jointly building a community with a shared future.” He also added that China “is willing to deepen all-round strategic cooperation with Indonesia” to build a community between the two countries with a strong regional and global influence.
Prabowo was elected president of Indonesia in February, and will succeed President Joko Widodo, who despite previously rivaling the president-elect, has now given him his support. Prabowo, currently the country’s defense minister, will officially assume office in October.
The trip to Beijing is Prabowo’s first after being elected, which many point to as a sign of his commitment to continuing Widodo’s policy of friendship with China. Prabowo was quoted by China’s CCTV as saying that he “fully supports the development of closer Indonesia-China relations.”
Despite disagreeing about territorial matters in the South China Sea, Indonesian relations with China have largely remained strong. China is Indonesia’s primary trading partner, and Beijing has invested billions into Indonesian infrastructure and industrial projects.
One such project is Jakarta’s first high-speed rail line which was established last year, with support from Beijing. Xi lauded the initiative, saying the line is “a golden sign of high-quality cooperation between the two countries.”
Prabowo said the new government will more closely align development strategies between China and Indonesia, adding that they will cooperate more in areas such as the economy, trade and poverty alleviation.
According to Prabowo, China is Indonesia’s “strong cooperative partner.”
While the meeting is a sign of efforts to further a positive relationship with Beijing, navigating rising tensions between China and Indonesia’s Southeast Asian neighbors over territorial claims in the South China Sea may test that partnership going forward.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated over the past month, after the Chinese coast guard used water cannons against a Philippine supply vessel, damaging the ship and injuring navy crew members.
The Philippines claims that China is encroaching upon its maritime territory, and China claims that it is protecting its own sovereignty.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea as its territory, citing a “nine-dash line” that other states in the region have rejected.
Some information in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
