President Jokowi: Replacement Of Chinese Foreign Minister Is Not Domestic Affairs

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) (Doc: State Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said that the replacement of Chinese Foreign Minister/Chinese People's Republic (RRT) Qin Gang is a domestic Chinese affair and has nothing to do with Indonesia. This was conveyed by the President when answering reporters' questions regarding whether or not there was an influence to replace the Chinese Foreign Minister to China today. "No. That's a domestic matter of RRT, there is no problem with us," said President Joko Widodo ahead of his departure to Chengdu, China, at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, quoted by ANTARA Thursday, July 27. President Jokowi said the position of Qin Gang as Foreign Minister was replaced by Wang Yi who was Chinese Foreign Minister for the previous period. According to the President, the relationship between the Indonesian government and Wang Yi was also quite good. And because the one who replaced was the previous Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, yes, this is our relationship for a long time and good with him," he said. China has replaced Qin Gang as foreign minister after being absent from his duties for one month.Qin was replaced by veteran diplomat Wang Yi, who previously held the post in 2013-2022.

Qin became Foreign Minister last December, but has not appeared publicly since June 25 when he met diplomats visiting Beijing. China's Foreign Ministry stated that Qin was not working for health reasons, but did not elaborate. President Joko Widodo himself on Thursday left for Chengdu, China to fulfill Chinese President Xi Jinping's invitation. Joko Widodo will discuss a number of matters with President Xi, among others in the fields of investment, strategic projects to regional and global issues.