Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian at a regular press conference Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indonesian counterpart successfully held the first meeting of the China-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, during which they spoke highly of the progress made in cooperation across various fields and agreed to deepen the alignment of development strategies and begin formulating a new five-year action plan for bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry (FM) spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Monday.

The remarks were made in responding to a media inquiry for comment regarding the visit, during which he attended the first meeting of the China-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue Mechanism and the second ministerial meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue Mechanism ("2+2").

The Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue Mechanism is a new mechanism established between China and Indonesia, providing important institutional support for the two countries to deepen cooperation under the "five pillars" in the new circumstances, according to Lin.

The two sides agreed to set a more ambitious bilateral trade target and vigorously expand cooperation in new quality productive forces, including artificial intelligence. They also reached agreement on resuming fisheries cooperation and agreed to accelerate maritime cooperation and advance the process of joint development, Lin said.

The FM spokesperson said that the two countries agreed that deepening cooperation in energy and mineral resources serves the common interests of both countries and expressed willingness to build a comprehensive, open and green partnership in energy and mineral resources. China stands ready to better support Indonesia in turning its resource advantages into drivers of development, accelerating its industrialization process and bringing benefits to the Indonesian people, Lin said.

Indonesia spoke highly of the contributions made by Chinese companies operating in the country to local development, stressing that the success of Chinese companies is also Indonesia's success, and expressed its willingness to provide a fair, transparent and friendly business environment for Chinese companies, Lin said.

The China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue Mechanism ("2+2") is the first ministerial-level "2+2" mechanism China has established globally, and this marked the second meeting under the mechanism.

Lin said that the two sides agreed on the need to coordinate development and security, foster a sense of security partnership, support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, jointly oppose external interference, and promote greater progress in political, security and defense cooperation.

The two sides also agreed to uphold the prevailing trend of regional cooperation and peace and stability in the South China Sea, strengthen policy coordination on multilateral platforms, oppose unilateral bullying and power politics, and safeguard international fairness and justice as well as the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, according to the spokesperson.

The world is currently at a crossroads between unity and division, and between cooperation and confrontation. As major developing countries and important members of the Global South, stronger strategic coordination and deeper solidarity and cooperation between China and Indonesia carry important and far-reaching significance beyond the bilateral relationship. The success of China-Indonesia cooperation is also a success for countries of the Global South, said the FM spokesperson.

China stands ready to work with Indonesia, guided by the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state, to translate the consensus reached at the relevant mechanism meetings into concrete outcomes, expand and strengthen all round strategic cooperation between China and Indonesia, jointly address risks and challenges, advance their respective modernization processes, and make greater contributions to regional and global stability and prosperity, said Lin.

At the same press conference, in response to another question regarding China-Indonesia cooperation, Lin said that the China-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue Mechanism is an important step by the two sides to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. It aims to deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, and deliver tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.

Since its launch, the Jakarta Bandung High-Speed Railway has maintained safe, smooth and orderly operations, carrying more than 16 million passenger trips in total. It has effectively improved local transportation conditions, facilitated travel for people along the route, and continued to play a driving role in Indonesia's economic and social development and regional connectivity.

China stands ready to work with Indonesia, through the Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, to continue advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deliver more new outcomes in areas including infrastructure, and inject new impetus into the modernization processes of both countries.

Global Times