Focusing on the long-term relations with Indonesia, Xi Jinping hopes to "run the historical relay well"

　　China News Service, Beijing, April 2 (Reporter Huang Yuqin) "China has always viewed China-Indonesia relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and is willing to run the historical relay race together with Indonesia." Chinese President Xi Jinping said this when he held talks with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Prabowo in Beijing on April 1.

　　From the ancient Maritime Silk Road that left historical stories of exchanges between the two countries, to the joint efforts of leaders of the two countries over the years to promote the continued progress of friendly relations between China and Indonesia, the friendship between China and Indonesia has lasted forever. Now, more than 10 days after Prabowo won the Indonesian presidential election, he started a trip to China, making the hope that the relationship between the two countries "run the historical relay race well" more realistic and profound.

On the afternoon of April 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Prabowo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo by China News Service reporter Sheng Jiapeng

　　"Run the historical relay race well" is reflected in the particularity of the timing of this visit.

　　On March 20, the Indonesian Election Commission announced the vote count results of the 2024 presidential election, and 72-year-old Prabowo won the election. On the same day, Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Prabowo, not only speaking highly of the current situation of bilateral relations, but also expressing his high expectations for the future of bilateral relations.

　　Just nine days later, China announced that Prabowo had been invited to visit China, and China became Prabowo's first country to visit as president-elect. In the eyes of the outside world, it is of special significance that China and Indonesia have finalized relevant arrangements in such a short period of time.

　　During this meeting, Xi Jinping once again expressed congratulations to Prabowo on his election and said, "You made China the first country to visit after being elected, and made a special trip to China during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which reflects the high importance you attach to China-Indonesia relations."

　　Prabowo also said that he was happy to make China his first country of visit after being elected as president. China is a major country with important influence, and Indonesia and China have always respected each other and treated each other as equals.

　　"The first visit of a national leader has important symbolic significance in the direction of foreign policy." Xu Liping, a researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the Southeast Asia Research Center, analyzed that during the special period of political transition in Indonesia, the general Rabowo's visit not only demonstrates the high level of relations between the two countries, but also sends a positive signal of mutual respect and close communication between China and Indonesia.

　　"Run the historical relay race well" is also based on the continuity of the friendship between the two countries.

　　Why can China-Indonesia relations achieve valuable achievements? In the meeting with Prabowo, Xi Jinping summarized it with "four insistences", namely: insisting on strategic independence, insisting on mutual trust and mutual assistance, insisting on win-win cooperation, and insisting on fairness and justice.

　　Especially in the past 10 years, Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Joko have jointly led the comprehensive and rapid development of bilateral relations and entered a new stage of jointly building a community with a shared future. Prabowo also emphasized again during the meeting, "I fully support the development of closer relations between Indonesia and China and am willing to continue President Joko's friendly policy towards China."

　　Zhang Jie, researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the Asia-Pacific Security and Diplomacy Research Office, pointed out that the leaders of both sides have shown a high degree of consensus on the future development of China-Indonesia relations, especially the continuation of President Joko’s China policy, which reflects the The certainty of the development of bilateral relations and the potential for in-depth cooperation.

　　Nowadays, more pragmatic cooperation is being carried out between China and Indonesia, represented by the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, the golden signature of high-quality cooperation between the two countries. From the "two countries, two parks" to the "regional comprehensive economic corridor" project, from maritime cooperation to poverty alleviation, Xi Jinping further set out the focus for future cooperation between China and Indonesia in the talks, and also allowed those who "run the historical relay race well" The prospect is more palpable.

　　"Run the historical relay race well" also lies in the influence of bilateral relations.

　　Last year marked the 10th anniversary of Xi Jinping’s proposal to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, and Indonesia was the rotating chair of ASEAN that year. Today, we hope that the two countries will "run the historical relay race well", which has implications beyond bilateral relations.

　　During the meeting with Prabowo, Xi Jinping pointed out that China is willing to work with Indonesia to safeguard the unity and centrality of ASEAN, maintain an open and inclusive regional architecture, and build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

　　Prabowo also responded, saying that Indonesia is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on international and regional affairs and make greater contributions to South-South cooperation, and specifically mentioned that "China has always upheld fairness and justice in international affairs, especially the Palestinian issue. I deeply appreciate it."

　　For some time now, in the face of external powers forcing ASEAN countries to choose sides, China has repeatedly stated its clear stance of supporting ASEAN’s central position in the regional architecture. The fact that China and Indonesia are moving towards each other is a vivid epitome of a close community with a shared future.

　　"Indonesia is the largest economy in ASEAN. Building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence is crucial to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future." Xu Liping analyzed.

　　From the timing of the visit to bilateral relations to regional influence, the answer is gradually becoming clear as to how China and Indonesia can "run the historical relay race well." As Xi Jinping said, in the past, the two countries have always supported each other in the struggle for national independence and national construction. In the future, they should also unite sincerely to create a model of mutual benefit and win-win, a model of common development, and a pioneer of South-South cooperation. (over)