By: Ratna Dewi )*
The bilateral meeting between the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and the Prime Minister of China Li Qiang at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, was an important milestone in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. This meeting not only strengthened diplomatic relations, but also paved the way for real collaboration in the fields of economy and national development. In the productive discussion, President Prabowo discussed a number of Indonesia’s flagship programs, ranging from the free nutritious meal program (MBG), energy self-sufficiency, to the major project of building a giant sea wall on the north coast of Java Island.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that in the meeting, President Prabowo openly expressed his hope that China could contribute further, not only in the form of technical cooperation, but also through increasing direct investment in Indonesia.
One of the programs in the spotlight is MBG, a strategic initiative aimed at improving the quality of Indonesia’s human resources from an early age. By providing free nutritious food in schools, this program not only addresses the issue of malnutrition, but also strengthens the resilience of future generations. Cooperation with China is expected to strengthen the food supply chain as well as effective and efficient national-scale food production and distribution technology.
In addition to MBG, the energy self-sufficiency program is a top priority put forward in the bilateral meeting. President Prabowo pays great attention to an independent and sustainable national energy transition. With the support of technology and investment from China, the Indonesian government is working to accelerate the development of renewable energy infrastructure, including the use of solar, wind, and biomass energy. This is in line with the global commitment to addressing the climate crisis and maintaining national energy stability amidst international geopolitical dynamics.
No less important, the construction of a giant sea wall on the north coast of Java was also discussed as an anticipatory step to deal with the threat of climate change and rising sea levels. This project not only aims to protect residential and industrial areas from tidal flooding, but is also designed to be an integrated economic area that can open up new jobs and encourage equitable development in coastal areas. China’s construction technology support and experience in building large-scale infrastructure are opportunities that should be utilized.
The meeting also resulted in the signing of four memorandums of understanding and eight cooperation documents covering various strategic sectors. The MoUs signed include cooperation in economic development policies, strengthening industrial cooperation and supply chains, and bilateral transaction cooperation using local currencies. This shows that Indonesia-China cooperation is not only based on physical projects, but also includes strengthening the economic and financial architecture of the two countries.
In addition, the eight cooperation documents signed include tourism, agricultural exports, traditional medicine, tuberculosis control, and strategic investment between the Danantara Investment Management Agency and China Investment Corporation. Collaboration between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries, as well as media cooperation between the ANTARA News Agency and China Media Group and Xinhua News Agency, also strengthen the ecosystem of bilateral relations in terms of economy, culture, and public diplomacy.
President Prabowo expressed optimism that cooperation with China will bring great benefits to the people of both countries. He assessed that this close relationship will make a real contribution to peace in the Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific regions. Moreover, Prabowo emphasized that this strategic partnership is in line with Indonesia’s vision to emerge as an independent and sovereign regional economic power.
Premier Li Qiang himself brought a personal message from President Xi Jinping, which showed how important Indonesia is in China’s foreign diplomacy map. He recalled the important consensus that had been reached during Prabowo’s visit to China in November 2024. According to Li Qiang, both countries have a responsibility to build a community with a shared future, which has broad influence at the regional and global levels.
As one of Indonesia’s main economic partners, China has shown its commitment through this official visit. Support for President Prabowo’s flagship programs is a signal that the future of relations between the two countries will continue to be strengthened through concrete cooperation, not just diplomatic rhetoric.
In the future, the implementation of all memorandums of understanding and cooperation documents that have been agreed uponti will be an important test for both countries in realizing an inclusive and sustainable strategic partnership. With a strong diplomatic foundation, coupled with visionary leadership, Indonesia and China are in a strategic position to build real synergy in economic development, energy security, and strengthening regional stability.
President Prabowo has shown a firm and measured initial step in economic diplomacy. By opening up space for mutually beneficial international collaboration, Indonesia has positioned itself as a country that is actively forming a peaceful, prosperous, and competitive regional order. The meeting with Prime Minister Li Qiang is clear evidence that under his leadership, Indonesia is ready to move further towards a sovereign and just future for all its people.
)* The author is an observer of international relations
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