President Jokowi Encourages China To Build Transportation Modes At IKN

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encourages China to build a mode of transportation in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan.

This wish was conveyed by Jokowi when he received an honorary visit from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Thursday, April 18.

"Mr. President (Jokowi) encourages cooperation in development at IKN, including for modes of transportation," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who accompanied Jokowi during a meeting with Wang Yi, as reported by Antara.

In addition, Jokowi also discussed the continuation of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project and encouraged the transfer of technology from China to Indonesia.

"It is necessary to accelerate the completion of the feasibility study for the extension of the route (fast train) to Surabaya," said Retno.

As is known, the Indonesian government has programmed the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Train (KCJB) to Surabaya by passing through Yogyakarta.

Through cooperation with China, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project was designated as one of the government's National Strategic Projects in Presidential Regulation Number 3 of 2016 concerning the Acceleration of National Strategic Projects.

Furthermore, President Jokowi also encouraged China to immediately realize investment for the petrochemical industry in North Kalimantan.

Jokowi and Wang Yi also discussed cooperation to support food security between the two countries.

Food security is very important. Therefore, agricultural cooperation between two countries is important to be improved, especially for rice, horticulture, and durian, one of which is studying Chinese agricultural modeling," said Retno.

President Jokowi also emphasized the importance of Indonesia-China increasing mutually beneficial economic cooperation, by further increasing and balancing the volume of bilateral trade.

"Mr. President (Jokowi) also hopes to continue to open access to the Indonesian product market to China, including the completion of protocols for imports of Indonesian agricultural and fishery products," said Retno.

According to Retno, the discussion of economic cooperation in more detail will be discussed at the Indonesia-China High-Level Dialogue Cooperation (HDCM) meeting in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday 19 April.

Indonesia will be jointly led by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, while the Chinese side will be represented by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

With a trading volume of more than 127 billion US dollars (around Rp2,055 trillion), China is the largest trading partner for Indonesia.

China is also one of the largest foreign investors in Indonesia with an investment value of more than 7.4 billion US dollars (approximately Rp. 119.7 trillion) last year.