China, Indonesia agree to better synergize development strategies

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday suggested closer alignment of China's Belt and Road Initiative with Indonesia's development strategy.

During his meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Beijing, Li called on both sides to promote cooperation in key areas such as infrastructure to achieve more results.

As major developing countries, China and Indonesia share broad common interests in safeguarding regional peace and promoting common development, said Li.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday suggested closer alignment of China's Belt and Road Initiative with Indonesia's development strategy. /Xinhua Photo

China attaches great importance to developing relations with Indonesia and is ready to enhance high-level exchanges between the two sides, he said.

China is willing to take the opportunity of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN strategic partnership to promote China-ASEAN relations to a new level, said Li.

Retno voiced satisfaction over the outcomes of the development of Indonesia-China relations.

She said Indonesia hopes to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, expand economic and trade cooperation, and deepen people-to-people exchanges.

Indonesia will work with China to advance the construction of the high-speed rail link connecting its capital Jakarta with Bandung, said Retno.

She also welcomed China to participate in the construction of Indonesia's three economic corridors in North Sulawesi, North Sumatra and North Kalimantan, the provinces closest to the Maritime Silk Road.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also met with his Indonesian counterpart in Beijing.

The two foreign ministers have co-hosted the third meeting of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation between the Governments of Indonesia and China.

They exchanged views on China-ASEAN relations, as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern. This year marks the fifth anniversary of China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Wang said: "China is Indonesia's biggest trading partner. Last year, our two-way trade made good progress, and imbalances in our bilateral trade have been gradually resolved. China is now Indonesia's biggest source of foreign tourists."

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi co-host the third meeting of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation between the Governments of Indonesia and China in Beijing, Feb.9, 2018. /CGTN Photo

"Last year, Chinese citizens made two million visits to Indonesia. And the potential for further growth is great. If we consider the investment by Chinese companies not only at home, but in third-party markets, China now stands as Indonesia's biggest source of foreign investment," Wang added.

"Progress has also been made in our cooperation in many other fields, such as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, education, law-enforcement, aerospace and maritime cooperation," Wang noted.

Retno, for her part, said: "This year also marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership. China and ASEAN have made great contributions to peace and prosperity in the region. And Indonesia and China have proposed an action plan from 2017 to 2021 to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries."

At the invitation of Wang, Retno is in China for a three-day visit starting from Thursday.