On the afternoon of October 17, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Indonesian President Joko Widodo who is in China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and pay a state visit.
Xi Jinping pointed out that Indonesia was the place where he first proposed the idea of jointly building a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The past ten years have seen the initiative come to fruition. Following the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and complementing each other’s strengths, China and Indonesia have worked together for joint development and brought great benefits to the two peoples, setting an important example of Belt and Road cooperation to the world. China will continue to support each other with Indonesia on the road to modernity and national rejuvenation, and will work with Indonesia to build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future to steer bilateral relations toward long-term and steady development, boost each other’s effort for rejuvenation, and provide an inexhaustible source of strength for international and regional peace and prosperity.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China will continue to view and develop relations with Indonesia from a strategic height and long-term perspective, make good use of existing mechanisms to deepen all-round strategic cooperation, increase mutual support on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, and work hand in hand to pursue a path of modernization suited to their respective national conditions. The Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway is a signature project of China-Indonesia Belt and Road cooperation. China is ready work with Indonesia to summarize the successful experience to ensure high-quality operation of the railway, and cultivate a Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway economic belt. Xi noted that the two sides need to deepen the integration of industrial and supply chains, and make joint effort to promote construction of the “Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor” and "Two Countries, Twin Parks". China supports relevant localities and enterprises in China in participating in the construction of major projects such as Indonesia's new capital and North Kalimantan Industrial Park, and is ready to continue to increase import of high-quality agricultural and fishery products from Indonesia, expand and strengthen cooperation in emerging industries such as digital economy, photovoltaics and new energy vehicles, and actively carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of food and agriculture technology, poverty alleviation, medical and health care, education, culture, tourism and youth. The two sides should also work closely to maintain ASEAN centrality, promote open regionalism, demonstrate the sense of responsibility expected of major developing countries, and work together to promote reforms of the global governance system, and safeguard international fairness and justice.
Widodo said that after meeting with President Xi Jinping in Chengdu more than two months ago, cooperation between the two countries has made further progress. The Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway has been completed on schedule this month and will be officially opened for operation. Widodo said he fully shares President Xi Jinping's views on the development of bilateral relations. Indonesia regards China as an important strategic partner for economic development, and looks forward to further strengthening communication and cooperation with China to enhance mutual trust and develop an even closer relationship that will not only benefit the peoples of the two countries, but also contribute to regional peace and prosperity. Widodo noted that Indonesia will continue to engage in high-quality cooperation with China on Belt and Road, and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to participate in the construction of Indonesia's new capital and the North Kalimantan Industrial Park, and to help speed up major projects such as “Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor” and "Two Countries, Twin Parks". Indonesia also looks forward to expanding agricultural exports to China and scaling up cooperation in such fields as electric vehicles, finance and energy security. Indonesia appreciates the series of important initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping and is willing and ready to better synergize the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific with the Belt and Road Initiative to help realize common development in the region and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly inaugurated the official operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway and witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on the establishment of a coordination mechanism for Belt and Road cooperation, implementation of the Global Development Initiative, rural development and poverty reduction, sustainable development, inspection and quarantine and so on.
The two sides will issue a joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia on deepening all-round strategic cooperation.
Before the talks, Xi held a welcoming ceremony for Widodo in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People, and accompanied him to inspect the Guard of Honor of the People's Liberation Army and watch the march-past.
Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the above events.
