Editorial | Common approach best for ties between China and Indonesia
Presidents Xi Jinping and Prabowo Subianto have complementary development visions for their countries and dialogue is the way forward
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s first trip abroad since being sworn into office last month indicates what to expect of his leadership of the world’s fourth most populous nation. It began in Beijing last week and talks with President Xi Jinping, continued in Washington with a phone call to president-elect Donald Trump and a meeting with US President Joe Biden before Prabowo left for his first two international conferences as leader.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru will be followed by the Group of 20 summit of the largest economies in Brazil.
The itinerary reflects China’s importance to Indonesia’s economy, Jakarta’s non-aligned stance in foreign relations and expectations Prabowo will take the lead in foreign policy. This underpins his domestic agenda of raising economic growth from 5 to 8 per cent and redistributing wealth.
Indonesia’s trade and investment links with China, including the Belt and Road Initiative, are key to his ambitions.
The Indonesian leader and his Chinese counterpart have complementary development visions. Xi said Indonesia should join Beijing in leading the Global South and promoting Asian values centred on peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration.
