China’s Premier Li Qiang arrived in Jakarta on Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Indonesia, during which he inspected the progress of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) project, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Li visited the construction site of the HSR station in Halim, east Jakarta, and praised the efforts of the Indonesian and Chinese workers who have overcome various challenges. He said the project is a symbol of the high-quality cooperation between China and Indonesia under the BRI, and will bring tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
The HSR project, which connects Indonesia’s capital Jakarta with its fourth-largest city Bandung in West Java province, is expected to be completed by 2024. It will reduce the travel time between the two cities from more than three hours by car to around 40 minutes by train, and create more than 40,000 jobs for local people.
Li also met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and discussed ways to deepen bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, such as trade, investment, infrastructure, health, education and culture. The two leaders witnessed the signing of several agreements on economic and technical cooperation, vaccine production, digital economy and environmental protection.
Li said China is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening-up. He said China strives to create new opportunities for the world with its own development and to contribute its share to building an open global economy that delivers greater benefits to all peoples.
Li also said China supports Indonesia’s vision of building a “Global Maritime Fulcrum” and is willing to work with Indonesia to promote regional connectivity and stability. He said China and Indonesia share a common aspiration for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Widodo welcomed Li’s visit and thanked China for its support and assistance in various fields. He said Indonesia attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with China and hopes to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure, tourism, education and culture.
Widodo also said Indonesia supports the BRI and is ready to work with China to advance regional and global peace and development.