Indonesia & China Strengthen Ties with IKN Project & Collaborations

Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized several areas of cooperation between Indonesia and China during a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping. The meeting took place at Hotel Jinniu in Chengdu, China on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Some of the discussed collaborations between the two heads of state include strengthening trade, investment, healthcare cooperation, cooperation in developing the new Indonesian capital (IKN), and research and technology cooperation. For the IKN development project, Jokowi hopes that China will continue to be a strategic partner.

“May the collaboration between the IKN Authority and the Shenzhen Municipal Government contribute to the planning and development of the IKN,” said Jokowi in a written statement on Thursday (July 27, 2023).

Regarding healthcare cooperation, Jokowi welcomed the finalization of the action plan for implementing healthcare cooperation between Indonesia and China. He also appreciated the resolution of import protocols for several products between the two countries.

“In the future, we need to continue pushing for the revision of protocols and increasing the import quota for bird’s nest and resolving the import protocols for Indonesian marine products,” the President continued.

During the meeting, Jokowi and Xi Jinping also discussed several regional issues, including ASEAN-China cooperation and China’s support for ASEAN centrality in achieving a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

“The Indo-Pacific is a strategic area that we must safeguard as a peaceful and stable region,” the President said.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents agreed upon by both countries, including the Protocol on Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Indonesian Konjac Powder Export to China.

Furthermore, the protocols on phytosanitary requirements for tabasheer export from Indonesia to China, the action plan for healthcare cooperation, the memorandum of understanding on joint research and development center, the memorandum of understanding on planning cooperation for knowledge and experience sharing related to the new Indonesian capital relocation, and memorandum of understanding on enhancing Indonesia-China cooperation “Two Countries, Twin Parks” were also signed.

In addition, two cooperation documents were signed in a circular manner, namely the memorandum of understanding on Chinese language education and the memorandum of understanding on economic and technical cooperation.