Jakarta Globe, Ezra Sihite, October 3, 2013
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| Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, second from right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping — accompanied by their wives — shake hands during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. (AFP Photo/Bay Ismoyo) |
Indonesia
and China have agreed to boost cooperation in various sectors as President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and China’s President Xi Jinping held a talk on
Wednesday in a meeting seen as crucial for enhancement of regional cooperation.
Analysts
said that while efforts to enhance trade and investment dominated the talks,
Xi’s decision to pick Indonesia as his first destination in Southeast Asia in
the middle of many regional problems would boost Indonesia’s standing as a key
country China would turn to when it has initiatives for the region.
In a joint
press conference after the meeting, Xi said China has strong intentions to make
its relations with Indonesia more comprehensive.
“China has
agreed, together with Indonesia, to push our cooperation to a new direction
which can bring prosperity to people of both countries,” he said.
As a signal
of enhanced partnership, Xi said China would build a cultural center in
Jakarta, and a consulate office in Bali. He also proposed the establishment of
an Asian investment and infrastructure bank — which would allow nations to
access funds for projects — in an effort to build interconnection and economic
integration across the region.
For his
part, Yudhoyono said both countries agreed to broaden their strategic
partnership signed in 2005. “I believe that under President Xi’s leadership,
Indonesia and China can achieve a new high in friendship and cooperation,”
Yudhoyono said.
He said
both countries vowed to continue boosting the current $51 billion dollar trade
to $80 billion by 2015.
China is
Indonesia’s largest trading partner but despite this, China’s investment in the
country last year was only $2.2 billion.
Coordinating
Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa said Chinese companies have agreed to
invest $20 billion dollar in Indonesia’s mineral and gas sectors.
“Several of
China’s companies have agreed to invest in Indonesia,” he said.
Yudhoyono
and Xi also witnessed the signing of six agreements, including an economic
cooperation agreement for the next five years, on integrated industrial park,
maritime and fisheries, economic creative and space exploration.
Beside
discussing economic cooperation, both leaders also discussed regional and
global issues that become common concerns for both countries, including
cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and on the South China
Sea.
Indonesian
Defense University expert Bantarto Bandoro said China could fill the space left
by the United States, which could be too preoccupied by domestic concerns. US
President Barack Obama’s trip to Asia next week — which includes the APEC
meeting in Bali — might be curtailed because of the government shutdown.
“If Obama
decides not to attend APEC in Bali, then China could steal the show,” he said.
Aleksius
Jemadu, dean of Pelita Harapan University’s School of Social and Political
Sciences, said China highly values its relations with Indonesia and investment
as well as other concrete efforts, such as boosting trade and building
infrastructure to get closer with Indonesia.
“By the end
of the day, it is how Indonesians feel about how the country has helped them,”
he said.
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