Indonesia Opens Opportunities For Cooperation With China To Build Dams

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono (Photo: Doc. Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) opens opportunities for collaboration and cooperation with the Chinese government regarding the construction of water resource infrastructure, especially dams.

This was conveyed by PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono during his visit to attend the World Water Congress XVIII in Beijing, China (RRT). During the visit, Minister Basuki held a bilateral meeting with Minister Water Resources of China (Minister of Chinese Water Resources), Li Guoying, on Monday, September 11.

"We are open to a sustainable water management cooperation plan, because it can affect economic, social and environmental conditions," Basuki said in a written statement, Tuesday, September 12.

Basuki said that until the end of 2022, the Chinese government had at least 98,000 dams, and this was a good example for Indonesia as an effort to achieve food self-sufficiency.

Therefore, Basuki has scheduled a visit site and visited three major dam construction sites in Indonesia, namely Jenelata in South Sulawesi, Riam Kiwa in South Kalimantan, and Pelosika in Southeast Sulawesi.

"The Indonesian government wants the Chinese government to ensure its quality, as well as explore technology and innovations that can be applied in dam development in Indonesia," he said.

In addition, Basuki also invited the Chinese government to participate and send delegates to the largest forum in the field of Water Resources, the 10th World Water Forum which will be held in Bali, Indonesia, in 2024.

Meanwhile, Chinese Water Resources Minister Li Guoying congratulated Indonesia on the implementation of the 10th World Water Forum next year.

"The Chinese government will certainly actively participate and send large numbers of delegates to take part in the 10th World Water Forum," he added.