China is the first country visited by Prabowo

China calls Prabowo the elected president of Indonesia. Prabowo visits Beijing on March 31-April 2 2024.

NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

Screenshot of a meeting between Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Defense Minister of the People's Republic of China General Wei Feng He in Xi'an City, People's Republic of China, on Friday (11/18/2022).

BEIJING, FRIDAY — China became the first country visited by Prabowo Subianto after being named as the presidential candidate with the most votes. China calls Prabowo the elected president of Indonesia.

In a statement on Friday (29/3/2024) in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying revealed plans for Prabowo's visit. Chinese President Xi Jinping, as reported by Xinhua, is said to have invited Prabowo to visit Beijing on March 31-April 2 2024. Hua called Prabowo the elected president and General Chair of the Gerindra Party.

Also read: President Xi Jinping Congratulates Prabowo's Victory

In addition to Xi, Prabowo will also be received by Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. In an official statement, China referred to Prabowo as a leader. This title is commonly given to heads of state or heads of government. Prabowo and Li are said to discuss Indonesia-China relations, as well as bilateral issues and issues of mutual concern.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said that Indonesia and China continue to maintain strong relations. Prabowo's choice to make China the first country to visit after the election further shows the strength of Indonesia-China relations.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The presidential and vice-presidential candidates with the most votes in the 2024 Presidential Election, Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka (on the right), attended a joint iftar and Nuzulul Quran commemoration of the Golkar Party in Jakarta on Friday (29/4/2024).

Prabowo's visit is an opportunity to further deepen the strategic cooperation between the two countries. The visit also promotes the alignment of development strategies between the two countries.

There is no official statement from the Office of the President of Indonesia or the Ministry of Defense of Indonesia regarding the visit. There is also no information whether Prabowo will visit as the Minister of Defense or the elected president.

On March 20, 2024, the General Election Commission (KPU) declared Prabowo as the presidential candidate with the most votes. The appointment of Prabowo as the elected president is pending a decision by the Constitutional Court. According to the plan, the Constitutional Court will determine the results of the election dispute lawsuit on April 22, 2024.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto (right) is talking with the Chairman of the President's Advisory Council Wiranto (Watimpres, center) and Watimpres member Gandi Sulistiyanto, while attending an iftar with President Joko Widodo, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, and members of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (28/3/2024).

After KPU's announcement, Xi has extended congratulations to Prabowo. Xi wrote a letter to Prabowo, stating that "China and Indonesia have traditionally been friendly neighbors. I emphasize the importance of the development of China-Indonesia relations and look forward to cooperation with the elected President Prabowo."

Through joint efforts between the two countries, said Xi, the development of bilateral relations has entered a fast track. Political trust has become more consolidated, strategic development cooperation has become deeper, and mutually beneficial cooperation has yielded good results.

Also read: Congratulate Prabowo, Biden promises to expand cooperation with Indonesia

China is one of Indonesia's important trading partners and one of the largest sources of foreign investment. Last year, Indonesia inaugurated its first high-speed train in the region through a multi-billion dollar project supported by Beijing.

As for the American President Joe Biden, he called Prabowo last Friday. In the five-minute phone call, Biden reiterated his congratulations to Prabowo. Previously, through a letter delivered on March 14th, 2024, Biden also congratulated Prabowo.