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.”

The ambassador also emphasized shared perspectives between the two countries on the need for a fair and balanced global economic and political order. He welcomed Indonesia’s intention to join BRICS and expressed optimism about stronger multilateral cooperation.

“China stands ready to work with Indonesia to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of both countries and the broader international community,” Wang stated.

He added that China’s relations with neighboring countries are currently at their strongest point in modern history, guided by a shared vision of peace, security, prosperity, and mutual respect.

Wang reaffirmed China’s commitment to expanding strategic coordination with Indonesia across five key areas: politics, economy, culture, maritime affairs, and security. He also reiterated support for key national projects such as the high-speed rail initiative, Whoosh. “On this historic milestone of 75 years of diplomacy, China is eager to collaborate even more closely with Indonesia to build a shared and promising future,” he said. (Uki Ruknuddin)

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