Beijing-Jakarta partnership beyond trade

Editor's note: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations. Taking the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, the two countries should strengthen cooperation on multilateral affairs and practice multilateralism. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, which forged a partnership that has grown robustly over the decades. Central to this relationship is economic cooperation, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative framework, which has substantially boosted bilateral trade and infrastructure development.

China has firmly established itself as Indonesia's largest trading partner. In 2022, bilateral trade reached about $133.64 billion, accounting for 25 percent of Indonesia's total trade, underscoring China's pivotal role in Indonesia's economic landscape. There was a slight decline of 4.4 percent in 2023, with trade totaling $127.82 billion, but in 2024, trade rebounded to $135.17 billion. The overall trend indicates deepening economic interdependence between the two countries.