REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia and People's Republic of China reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their bilateral relations after the arrival of Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, in Beijing on Friday. The message was conveyed by Marsudi after attending the 3rd Joint Commission of Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Friday.
"Indonesia and China are two big countries. An opportunity such as this JCBC is not only used to discuss bilateral issues but also those related to the region and the world," Marsudi said in a press statement received here on Friday.
Marsudi further conveyed that Indonesia and China relations were continuing to grow strong every year, with growing numbers of trade value, investment, and tourists. The minister also encouraged the two countries to overcome challenges and explore opportunities to realize and improve cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, and infrastructure.
In 2017, statistics showed the trade value between the two countries reached US$63.358 billion - a 17.15 per cent increase from the previous year's figures. Indonesia, however, expects trade to be more balanced in the future and hopes that trade of Indonesia's main commodities, such as CPO, could be increased.
In the investment sector, China is the third-largest country in Indonesia, with $3.4 billion worth of investment just last year.
Meanwhile, Indonesia will send its delegation led by the Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs to China to discuss investment in Indonesia's four economic corridors that cover North Sumatra, North Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, and Bali.
In the tourism sector, nearly two million Chinese people visited Indonesia in 2017, statistics showed. The number of Chinese tourists to the country is growing due to additional flights by Indonesia's flagship air carrier Garuda from Xi'an and Zhengzhou to Bali.
Minister Marsudi also conveyed that cooperation between the ASEAN nations and China remained robust and the negotiation of the Code of Conduct of the South China Sea will commence in March. "I hope it is concluded soon," she said.
"ASEAN-China should be contributors to peace and prosperity in the region by respecting the international law," she added.
During the 3rd JCBC, Indonesia will also discuss the Palestine issue and ask China's support to the struggle of Palestinians for their independence, including support through UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
During her visit to China, Marsudi also paid a courtesy call to Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Antara's reporter in Beijing reported that Keqiang conveyed that Marsudi's visit to Beijing was a special one, especially in days prior to the Chinese New Year, which falls on February 16 this year.
"We usually don't receive any visitor ahead of the Chinese new year. But Indonesia is our most important partner," Keqiang said after receiving Marsudi in his office.
"Last but not the least, I wish you happy Chinese New Year," Marsudi said
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