JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Wang Lutong, reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening relations with Indonesia as the two nations celebrated 75 years of diplomatic ties.

Speaking at an anniversary event in Jakarta on Thursday (April 17), Ambassador Wang highlighted the rapid progress of bilateral relations and the importance of recent high-level visits, including two by President Prabowo Subianto to China and his meetings with President Xi Jinping.

“These visits have laid the foundation for building a China–Indonesia community with a shared future that contributes to regional and global development,” Wang said.

As part of ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation, Wang announced the upcoming launch of a Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Dialogue (2+2), with the first ministerial meeting set to take place in the near future.

Wang underscored the central role of economic and trade cooperation in bilateral ties. For 12 consecutive years, China has remained Indonesia’s largest trading partner. In 2023, total trade between the two countries reached US$147.8 billion.

He pointed to the growing role of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers such as BYD, Wuling, and Chery in supporting Indonesia’s green transformation. “The approach of planning together, building together, and sharing together has become a model for development cooperation among emerging countries,” he said.

Tourism and cultural interaction have also flourished. In 2024, 1.43 million Chinese tourists visited Indonesia, reflecting strong people-to-people connections.

Wang highlighted the importance of academic and student exchange programs in strengthening long-term cooperation, adding, “These cross-cultural interactions are rooted in mutual respect and deep neighborly bonds.”