Chinese Foreign Minister Visits Indonesia, Strengthens Cooperation with Developing Countries

China hopes to follow up on President Xi's agreement with the leaders of Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.

AP PHOTO/TATAN SYUFLANA

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

BEIJING, WEDNESDAY — Foreign Minister China Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea on April 18–23 2024. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian, at a press conference in Beijing, Wednesday (17/4/2024), explained that the visit was to strengthen cooperation as fellow developing countries in the Asia-Pacific.

A meeting in Jakarta is scheduled for Thursday (18/4/2024). This will be the fourth meeting of the High-Level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism. Meanwhile, the visit to Cambodia is part of the seventh China-Cambodia Inter-Governmental Committee on Cooperation.

"All the countries visited are friendly countries and partners who are mutually beneficial and are developing together. China's relations with these three countries are developing rapidly. China is working together with Indonesia and Cambodia to realize a shared future. "China and Papua New Guinea strengthen strategic partnership cooperation and strengthen the Belt and Road Initiative," said Lin.

Also read: Industrial Zone Cooperation between Indonesia and China Strengthened

RUSMAN, INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE VIA AP

President Joko Widodo (right) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (11/7/2022).

Through Wang's visit, China hopes to follow up on President Xi Jinping's agreements with the leaders of Indonesia, Cambodia, and Papua New Guinea. According to the plan, there will be an improvement in the quality of relationships with these three countries.

China has declared readiness to cooperate with other countries in the region to strengthen solidarity and uphold peace and tranquility. This cooperation is a contribution to regional peace, stability, and shared growth.

Also read: Indonesia-China: Building Partnership, Synergy and Solidarity

In Indonesia, China has the first high-speed train development project in Southeast Asia that connects Jakarta and Bandung. Other development projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative in Indonesia are worth billions of US dollars. China is one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Indonesia.

The presidential candidate with the highest vote count in the 2024 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto, visited Beijing and met with Xi in early April 2024. Xi praised the Indonesia-China relationship and revealed a vision for regional peace.

KOMPAS/ ANITA YOSSIHARA

The APEC Haus building in the Ella Beach area of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, was specifically built to host the APEC leaders' meeting from Saturday (17/11/2018) to Sunday (18/11/2018).

On a separate occasion, China's Ambassador to ASEAN, Hou Yanqi, stated that a deeper format of cooperation in future projects with China and ASEAN will expand opportunities for ASEAN members. "In the past, what was known were products made in China. In the future, what will exist are products designed in China, but made in ASEAN. ASEAN-China cooperation must be inclusive and involve various parties," said Hou during the Chinese New Year celebration in Jakarta in February 2024.

Meanwhile, for Papua New Guinea, China has provided full support in the implementation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in November 2018. China assisted in building a six-lane highway, renovating meeting buildings, constructing a road to Port Moresby Airport, schools, and various programs, such as a malaria treatment center.

Also read: Papua New Guinea in the Middle of US-China Influence in the South Pacific

In Cambodia, various cooperation projects with China include the construction of the first toll road connecting the city of Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. The 248-kilometer toll road shortens travel time from 5-6 hours to around 2.5 hours. (AFP)