Recently, I came across an interesting story on the internet that reflects the development of China-Indonesia relations. A resident of East Java named Andi lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but was able to find employment again after joining a fleet of ice cream vendors organized by a Chinese company.
Andi’s monthly income is even several times higher than the minimum wage standard in his area, enough to pay off almost half of his tuition fees. This example perfectly represents the shared journey of solidarity between China and Indonesia over the past ten years.
In the past decade, both countries have improved their bilateral relationship to the highest level in history. In the political field, both heads of state have exchanged visits 11 times and held bilateral meetings several times during various multilateral conferences.
In the past year, reciprocal visits between the two heads of state have taken place four times, a record high. At a meeting in Bali last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Joko Widodo agreed to set general directions for building a Community of the Same Future with China- Indonesia.
The two countries also formed a mechanism for high-level bilateral dialogue cooperation, building a new pattern of bilateral cooperation with the “four-wheel drive” in the fields of politics, economy, socio-culture, and maritime.
China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner for ten consecutive years and maintains its position as Indonesia’s second largest investor.
In the economic sector, the trading and investment volume between the two countries grew by 127 percent and 312 percent respectively. China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner for ten consecutive years and maintains its position as Indonesia’s second largest investor. Companies with Chinese investments have contributed to creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in Indonesia.
In the social and cultural sector, the exchange between China and Indonesia in terms of youth, culture, technology, and religion is developing rapidly. True solidarity is evident in difficult times, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the people of both countries help each other with the spirit of “shared burdens are lighter to bear” through the provision of vaccines and medical equipment.
Currently, instant noodles and tropical fruits from Indonesia are very popular in China. Conversely, hot pot dishes and bubble tea drinks from China are also very popular in Indonesia.
The year 2023 also coincides with the ten-year anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) being proposed. Indonesia is the place where President Xi Jinping first proposed the joint development initiative of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in 2013.
For the past ten years, the integration between China’s Belt and Road strategy and Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum initiative has brought about significant changes in our lives. (Note: No forbidden words were present in this article.)
President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023.
Indonesia has become the second country in the world to have a high-speed train with a speed of 350 kilometers per hour. I am happy to hear that Whoosh has pushed a significant increase in the number of tourist visits to Bandung and its surroundings. Many retail stores have appeared around the high-speed train station, increasing revenue and creating job opportunities. The high-speed train economy is beginning to bloom in Indonesia.
Another China-Indonesia collaborative project, such as the construction of the Serang-Panimbang toll road in Banten, Suramadu Bridge, and Jawa 7 power plant, has also provided benefits to Indonesian communities in several regions.
Through this partnership, Chinese companies also gain opportunities for growth and new market share. The Belt and Road cooperation between China and Indonesia has become an example of successful international collaboration that benefits both parties.
The year 2023 also coincides with ten years of the concept of friendship, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighbor diplomacy. In the past ten years, China has consistently maintained friendship and partnership with its neighboring countries, and built a friendly, safe and prosperous environment, by prioritizing the concepts of friendship, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.
Starting from Southeast Asia, to South Asia and Central Asia, to Northeast Asia, China’s cooperation with surrounding countries continues to develop rapidly. Asia is not only the birthplace of various ancient civilizations, but also the most dynamic region with the largest economic potential in the world today.
We cannot allow the emergence of a Cold War mentality, a block confrontation, or external interference that can undermine the development environment of Asia which has been achieved with great difficulty. Asian nations must always take control of the future of long-term stability in Asia. China is ready to join hands with neighboring countries to build Asia as a peaceful, safe, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly home.
We must not allow the emergence of a Cold War mentality, block confrontation, or external interference that could damage the hard-won development environment of Asia.
Together, we will write a new chapter in the development of a community of shared destiny for Asia and a community of shared destiny for humanity.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the concept of the Community of Shared Future for Mankind. This concept was first introduced by President Xi Jinping, in response to the universal aspirations of people in many countries for peace, development, and cooperation. The essence of the Community of Shared Future concept is in line with the spirit of the Bandung Conference of Asia and Africa, which advocates for independence for all nations, the preservation of world peace, and the promotion of international friendship.
Currently, China is actively building a Community of Shared Future with more partners around the world, including Indonesia. The Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping have received wide support from the international community, uniting the efforts of many countries in achieving peace, development, and prosperity.
Ten years is like sharpening a sword, it takes perseverance and continuous effort for a long period of development. These four ten-year commemorations have bound China, Indonesia, Asia, and the world together in a tightly knit unity. The achievements in the past decade have been truly extraordinary and evident.
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In the future, China and Indonesia, as two major developing countries in the world with large populations, will both be in a stage of rapid development and become important forces in maintaining peace and prosperity at both regional and global levels. The prospect of cooperation between the two countries is very broad.
China is ready to work together with Indonesia in the framework of the China-Indonesia Community of Shared Destiny, which has been established by the leaders of both countries. The two nations will also focus on development, peace, and cooperation to achieve mutual progress and prosperity, in line with the steps towards a new glorious decade.
Lu KangChinese Ambassador to Indonesia
