JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto encourages the strengthening of Indonesia's economic cooperation with the People's Republic of China (PRC) through increased quality investment, more balanced trade, and acceleration of the realization of strategic projects.
The commitment was conveyed by Airlangga when he held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Trade of the RRT Wang Wentao in Shanghai, Friday, July 17. The meeting discussed strengthening the economic partnership of the two countries in various sectors, ranging from trade, investment, economic zone development, digital economy, renewable energy, to regional economic cooperation.
"Indonesia and the RRT have complementary economic structures. Future cooperation needs to be directed at increasing more balanced trade values, quality investments, technology transfer, human resource development, and strengthening national industrial capacity," Airlangga said in his statement, quoted Sunday, July 19.
Airlangga said that RRT is still Indonesia's largest trading partner. In 2025, the value of trade between the two countries reached 154.6 billion US dollars with an average growth of 7.24 percent over the period 2021-2025. According to him, this achievement shows the close economic relationship between the two countries as well as the importance of maintaining the balance of bilateral trade.
In the field of investment, RRT is also one of the three largest foreign investors in Indonesia. Throughout 2025, RRT's investment realization reached nearly 8.1 billion US dollars or about 13 percent of total foreign investment. The investment mainly flows into the processing industry, trade, energy, property, and transportation and warehousing sectors.
One of the focuses of the discussion is the acceleration of the implementation of cooperation through the Two Countries Twin Parks (TCTP) scheme. To date, 30 memorandums of understanding (MoU) have been signed with an estimated investment value of around IDR 37.1 trillion.
Airlangga emphasized that all of the MoUs need to be immediately realized into concrete investment projects. He also encouraged the establishment of a joint venture (joint venture) between Indonesian and RRT business actors so that the implementation of cooperation runs faster.
"Various Memorandums of Understanding that have been signed need to be immediately followed up with real investments. We also encourage the establishment of a joint venture so that TCTP cooperation can produce more concrete economic benefits," he said.
In addition, Indonesia proposes expanding the area that can join the TCTP program to open opportunities for broader industrial cooperation, improve interregional connectivity, and expand investment benefits to various regions.
The Ministry of Trade of the RRT is also encouraged to encourage Chinese companies to participate as investors, strategic partners, and co-developers in the development of industrial areas and commercial areas in Indonesia.
In the energy sector, Airlangga invited RRT companies to increase investment in the development of solar power plants (PLTS) to support the target of developing national solar energy capacity to 100 gigawatt.
The government, said Airlangga, appreciates the involvement of RRT investors in the construction of the Cirata Floating Solar Plant, which is a symbol of cooperation between the two countries.
According to him, the solar panel industry in Indonesia still has great potential to be developed through the development of a more complete and integrated supply chain in the country.
At the regional level, Indonesia asked the ASEAN to support the establishment of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Secretariat in Indonesia. The existence of a permanent secretariat is considered important to strengthen coordination among member countries and improve the implementation of the trade agreement.
Indonesia also expressed support for China's chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2026. Both countries are expected to start preparing various priority projects that can be announced at the meeting of heads of state.
Airlangga emphasized that the government was committed to maintaining policy certainty and creating a conducive investment climate so that the results of bilateral discussions could be immediately realized in projects that would benefit both countries.
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