Indonesian President Widodo has just made a two-day visit to Beijing. According to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, the focus of the visits (he will continue on to South Korea and Japan afterwards) “is to strengthen economic cooperation, especially in trade and investment.” Trade between China and Indonesia has grown dramatically in the recent period, increasing in just the last year to $120 billion. The largest commodity import from Indonesia to China is coal, at 67 million tons, a number which has grown recently because of tensions with China’s former leading coal exporter, Australia.
The two leaders also discussed the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway, a $2 billion project being built by China, and a regional comprehensive economic corridor. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Widodo also spoke of China’s great success in its war on poverty, saying “Indonesia admires China’s remarkable accomplishments in poverty alleviation and wants to draw on China’s successful experience.”
In addition, Xi and Widodo spoke about the broader issues and future facing the region and the world. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry: “President Xi pointed out that facing changes in the world that are unfolding in ways like never before, China and Indonesia need to stand together in solidarity, fulfill the responsibilities of major developing countries, follow true multilateralism, uphold open regionalism, and contribute Oriental wisdom and Asia’s input to the development of global governance… China welcomes Indonesia’s continued active participation in “BRICS Plus” cooperation. China appreciates Indonesia’s support for and commitment to the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and is ready for closer communication and cooperation with Indonesia in this regard.”
As has been reported before, Indonesia will host this year’s G20 Summit in November, and will also be the chair of ASEAN in 2023. Widodo and other Indonesian leaders have also repeatedly resisted geopolitical pressure from the U.S. and the West to disengage with Russia and China. Attempts to push Widodo to dis-invite President Putin of Russia from the G20 Summit this year have met a firm resolve from the Indonesian President, and U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley, who just made a trip to Indonesia to say that China is the biggest threat to the region, has clearly not deterred Widodo from his warm visit with President Xi.
