Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday concluded his official visit to Indonesia, reinforcing bilateral ties and partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and sending a strong message of defending economic globalization and free trade.
Ranging from increased imports of Indonesia's products and synergy of development strategies to consensus on South China Sea, Li's visit saw a series of agreements and statements, demonstrating China's willingness to build a close community of shared future with its southeast Asian neighbors and share its development opportunities with all.
STRONGER PARTNERSHIP
Indonesia was the first stop on Li's first overseas trip since the new cabinet took office in March, highlighting the country's importance in China's diplomacy.
Li arrived in Jakarta on Sunday afternoon. His tight schedule on Monday started with laying a wreath at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery. Then he headed for Bogor to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
The premier suggested Beijing and Jakarta build up three pillars of all-field cooperation at bilateral, regional and global levels within the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2013 when President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Indonesia.
Promoting the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's "Global Maritime Fulcrum" vision was high on the agenda of Li's visit.
The two sides should push forward the landmark projects of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and Indonesia's regional comprehensive economic corridors, so that the two peoples can enjoy the social and economic benefits at an early date, Li told President Widodo.
Pledges are backed by concrete measure that Li proposed in various occasions: more cooperation in ports, maritime economy, industrial processing and overseas warehouses; more imports of palm oil, coffee and fruits; more direct flights and the goal of three million mutual visits annually ...
For Widodo, the cooperation between Indonesia and China, which is based on respect to international laws, not only caters to the interests of the two countries, but also bears great significance to the world's peace and development.
The president's remarks were echoed by Li who addressed the China-Indonesia Business Summit later in the day.
"Our partnership, which rests on solid complementarity and is win-win in nature, is well-positioned to be stable, resilient and lasting in the context of a changing international environment," Li said at the summit attended by Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
In a joint statement between the governments of the two countries, both sides said they were "optimistic about further accomplishments in the two countries' national development and brighter future of China-Indonesia bilateral ties."
As major developing countries, China and Indonesia shoulder responsibilities of contributing to global governance and building a new type of international relations, said Xu Liping, a researcher with the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Li's visit has boosted bilateral pragmatic cooperation that sets a good example of cooperation in the region and beyond."
