Chinese President Xi Jinping advised his Indonesian counterpart that Beijing hopes for a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, as the 2 leaders met on Saturday.
Xi held talks with President Prabowo Subianto in Beijing, the primary cease of the Indonesian chief’s inaugural overseas tour since he took workplace in October.
China is eager to work with Indonesia to “write a new chapter of joint self-reliance, solidarity and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results as major developing countries”, Xi advised Prabowo in entrance of journalists.
Beijing and Jakarta are key financial allies, with Chinese firms ploughing cash into extracting Indonesian pure sources in recent times, notably the nickel sector.
But the 2 international locations have sparred verbally over disputed claims in the South China Sea.
Prabowo stated that the connection between the 2 international locations was “getting stronger and stronger”.
“I would like to reiterate our commitment… to work together for the mutual benefit of our two peoples and for the prosperity, peace and stability of all of Asia,” he added.
Xi held a welcome ceremony for Prabowo at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Saturday.
After their talks, officers from the 2 international locations signed a collection of paperwork together with memorandums of understanding on maritime security and water sources cooperation.
Prabowo, who landed in China on Friday, can also be assembly Premier Li Qiang and quantity three official Zhao Leji throughout his journey, which ends on Sunday.
He will journey onwards to Washington, on the invitation of US President Joe Biden, as a part of a world tour which will even embody Peru, Brazil and Britain.
Prabowo has pledged to stay to Jakarta’s historically non-aligned overseas coverage whereas making the world’s fourth-most populous nation extra lively overseas.
– Maritime disputes –
Confrontations over what Indonesia says are Chinese incursions into its territorial waters have weighed on the buying and selling companions’ relationship in recent times.
In 2020, Indonesia deployed fighter jets and warships to patrol across the Natuna islands within the South China Sea after Chinese vessels entered the world.
Last month, Indonesia stated it drove Chinese coast guard ships from contested waters within the South China Sea on three separate events.
Indonesia says it’s attempting to cease overseas vessels from fishing in its waters, costing the financial system billions of {dollars} yearly.
Huge unexploited oil and gasoline deposits are believed to lie underneath the South China Sea, although estimates range vastly.
Beijing has for years sought to increase its presence within the contested waters, brushing apart a world ruling that its declare to many of the waterway has no authorized foundation.
It has constructed synthetic islands armed with missile methods and runways for fighter jets, and deployed vessels that the Philippines says harass its ships and block its fishers.
The current confrontations had been an early take a look at for Prabowo, who has pledged to bolster the defence of Indonesian territory.
Prabowo has promised to be bolder on overseas coverage than his predecessor Joko Widodo, who centered extra on home points.
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