Foreign Minister Retno: Indonesia-China Hold High Level Meeting in Labuan Bajo Tomorrow

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi's meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Jakarta. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesia and China will hold a high-level meeting to discuss details of increasing cooperation in Labuan Bajo tomorrow, with the Bamboo Curtain Country being the largest trading partner at the moment, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Retno L.P Marsudi.

Ahead of the celebration of 75 years of Indonesia-China diplomatic relations, Foreign Minister Retno said the Jakarta-Beijing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership would continue to be fostered with a spirit of cooperation, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, following a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"The PRC is one of Indonesia's important partners. The PRC is Indonesia's largest trading partner, with a trade volume reaching more than 127 billion US dollars," said Foreign Minister Retno in Jakarta, Thursday, April 18.

"PRC is also one of the largest foreign investors with an investment value of more than 7.4 billion US dollars last year," she continued.

Foreign Minister Retno further explained that several focuses of investment cooperation that will continue to be strengthened include industrial downstreaming, infrastructure development, manufacturing, energy transition, and food security.

He explained that detailed economic cooperation would be discussed at the High-Level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism (HDCM) meeting which will be held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara tomorrow.

"The Indonesian side will be led jointly by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, the Chinese side will be led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi," said Foreign Minister Retno.

She added that in today's bilateral meeting the two foreign ministers also discussed cooperation in handling cross-border crime, especially online scams.

"I convey the importance of regional cooperation, including with the PRC in handling this crime, where many Indonesian citizens are victims," ​​explained Foreign Minister Retno.

"I also invite China to collaborate in the field of prevention, so that victims do not continue to fall," she concluded.