China, Indonesia agree to enhance cooperation

China and Indonesia agreed on Friday to shore up bilateral and multilateral cooperation in various fields as Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the 5th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between the two countries with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Beijing.

Both sides will ensure the high-level and secure operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, and accelerate the development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and "Two Countries, Twin Parks", the flagship projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, according to a news release issued by the foreign ministry.

They will also tap the potential for cooperation in new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaics, and the digital economy, as well as expand two-way investment, agricultural and food product cooperation and cultural exchanges.

Both sides pledged to work together to improve global governance, enhance the representation and voice of developing countries, uphold the common interests of countries in the Global South, and explore third-party cooperation with Africa.

During the meeting, Wang noted China has always viewed and developed friendly relations with Indonesia from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is willing to continuously elevate the building of a community of shared future between the two countries to new heights.

China is speeding up high-quality development and expanding high-level opening-up, which Wang said will bring new opportunities for its cooperation with Indonesia and regional development.

He called on the two countries to keep deepening high-level exchanges, strengthening strategic communication, consolidating strategic mutual trust and firmly supporting each other in safeguarding core interests.

China and Indonesia should continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen alignment of strategic development, he said, while highlighting a leading role of joint building of the Belt and Road cooperation in upgrading pragmatic cooperation between the two sides.

Wang also urged Beijing and Jakarta to encourage exchanges among youth, think tanks and media and improve personnel facilitation to enhance mutual understanding and amity.

Calling China one of the Southeast Asian country's most important strategic partners, Marsudi said Indonesia is committed to developing stronger ties with China.

Indonesia is willing to work closely with China in multilateral collaboration, uphold multilateralism, and strengthen South-South cooperation, she added.