Premier Li urges China, Indonesia to expand cooperation, safeguard free trade

JAKARTA -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday urged China and Indonesia to make the pie of cooperation bigger, strengthen industrial integration and safeguard free trade.

Li made the remarks when addressing the Indonesia-China Business Reception 2025.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, Li said that more than seven decades ago, the world stood at a historical crossroads.

Amid global discord and confrontation, China and Indonesia, together with other Asian and African nations, gathered in Bandung and forged the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation, which has played a pivotal role in advancing South-South cooperation and steering the world toward positive development, Li said.

Today, more than seven decades later, the world is once again at a critical crossroads, Li said, adding that amid evolving international situation intertwined with turmoil, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and acts of bullying are increasing.

Against this backdrop, the contemporary value of the Bandung Spirit has become more prominent, Li said.

He called on both sides to follow the general trend of historical progress, adhere to seeking common ground while reserving differences and peaceful coexistence, resolve differences through consultation, promote win-win results through cooperation, and achieve development and prosperity through joint construction and shared benefits.

Noting that China and Indonesia have consistently upheld the Bandung Spirit in advancing all-round practical cooperation, Li said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state in recent years, China-Indonesia cooperation has continuously reached new heights.

With bilateral trade expanding in scale and improving in quality, two-way investment growing rapidly, and major projects yielding remarkable results, Li added, the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has continued to strengthen its bonds, delivering tangible benefits to businesses and people in both countries while injecting greater certainty into the world economy.

Li emphasized that this year, China's economy has achieved rapid growth amid increasing external challenges, demonstrating strong internal drivers and tremendous growth potential.

Li noted the incremental space for demand release, saying that China is implementing a strategy to expand domestic demand and is launching specific initiatives to boost consumption, which will continuously unlock the potential of its mega-sized market.

There is also vast potential in technology empowerment, Li said, noting that China continues to make breakthroughs in technological innovation, with artificial intelligence, robotics, biopharmaceuticals and other fields accelerating their integration across industries, which will create more innovation and investment cooperation opportunities for businesses worldwide.

Li also pointed to potential in industrial upgrading, saying that China is vigorously advancing the high-end, intelligent and green transformation of its manufacturing sector while expanding overseas investment in an orderly manner, and will enhance the efficiency and resilience of global industrial and supply chains in collaboration with other countries.

China is ready to share incremental growth space and development opportunities with all countries, including Indonesia, and remains steadfast in opening up wider to the world, Li said, adding that China will create a more favorable environment for foreign enterprises to invest and operate in China.

Li expressed hope that the business communities of China and Indonesia will enhance docking and take active actions to promote more fruitful cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

Prabowo, for his part, said that the relationship between Indonesia and China is one of the most strategic and promising bilateral relations in the 21st century.

Indonesia is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of economy and trade, industry, green economy, as well as science and education, enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to better achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, he said, adding that Chinese enterprises are welcome to continue to invest and do business in Indonesia and broaden the scope of cooperation.

Indonesia highly appreciates China's important role in international affairs and stands ready to work with China to carry forward the Bandung Spirit, maintain peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and uphold international equity and justice, he said.

Before the dinner, the leaders of the two countries jointly visited a commemorative exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference and an exhibition of the achievements of economic and trade cooperation between China and Indonesia.