China's Xi hails Indonesia for its success in leading region in Belt and Road Initiative projects

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – China's President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that Indonesia is "leading" the region and setting an "important" example for the rest of the world by fully participating in the country's flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“On Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, China and Indonesia are spearheading the region and setting an important example for the world,” Xi told his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo during a meeting in Beijing.

Widodo is in Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which is expected to be attended by over 4,000 representatives from 149 countries and 30 international organizations.

“Beijing is ready to enhance mutual support with Indonesia on the road to modernity and national rejuvenation,” China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, quoting Xi as saying to Widodo during the meeting.

Notably, Indonesia recently launched the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed train, which is part of China's multitrillion-dollar BRI projects.

The train is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia and has the capacity to transport over 600 people between Jakarta and Bandung.

During the meeting, Xi and Widodo jointly unveiled the official start of operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on establishing a coordination mechanism for Belt and Road cooperation, advancing the global development initiative, rural development and poverty reduction, sustainable development, quality inspection and quarantine and so on.

Meanwhile, Widodo also met with Prime Minister Li Qiang and discussed bilateral relations.

Over the last decade, Indonesia and China's comprehensive strategic partnership has thrived, with China becoming Indonesia's top trading partner and second-largest investor, Widodo said later on social media platform X.

Xi proposed the BRI in 2013 to connect China with markets in Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa by recreating the ancient Silk Road to improve global trade infrastructure.

With over 200 cooperation agreements spread across 150 countries and 30 international organizations, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and the partner countries has reached $19.1 trillion, with a 6.4% annual growth rate from 2013 to 2022.