Chinese President Xi Jinping Praises Jokowi's Leadership When Meeting Prabowo

JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping praised President Joko Widodo's leadership in the last 10 years when he met Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the People's Great Hall in Beijing.

"President Xi Jinping congratulated Prabowo Subianto as president-elect of Indonesia and asked Prabowo to convey his sincere greetings to President Joko Widodo," the Chinese government said in the local official media as reported by ANTARA, Monday, April 1.

It said Joko Widodo and Xi Jinping had shown leadership in relations between the two countries that achieved significant results in the last 10 years.

The meeting of the two leaders was also attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Xi invited Prabowo to make an official visit to China on March 31-April 2, 2024, his first visit abroad as president-elect of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Jakarta-Bandung fast train has become a golden milestone in quality cooperation between the two countries, and China-Indonesia relations have entered a new stage in building communities with a shared future," the statement read.

Xi said China views relations between two countries from a strategic and long-term point of view.

He also said China was willing to deepen strategic cooperation with Indonesia and build an influential Chinese-Indonesian community at the regional and global levels.

Xi also emphasized that the key to relations between the two countries lies in independent relations, mutual trust, mutual assistance, mutual benefit, and fair.

"In the past, the two countries always supported each other in the struggle for independence and the national development period. In the future, China-Indonesia must also unite to create a model of mutual benefit and pioneer cooperation between South and South," the statement said.

The two countries, Xi said, must follow the flow of development that is in accordance with their respective national conditions, support each other in maintaining sovereignty, security, and economic interests, as well as understanding issues involving the interests of each country.

Xi said China wants to maintain close relations with Indonesia, exchange experiences in state governance, strengthen development strategies, promote "two countries, twin parks" programs and comprehensive economic corridors, and continue to deepen maritime cooperation.

China also hopes to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in poverty alleviation.

During his visit to China, Prabowo was accompanied by his son, Ragowo Hediprasetyo, Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sugiono, Special Assistant to the Minister of Defense for Defense Management Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Head of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) Lt. Gen. Yudi Abrimantyo, and a number of Ministry of Defense officials.