Green energy powers Indonesia ties

As China and Indonesia commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, a subtle yet significant transition is underway — from investments primarily focused on infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative framework to strategic collaboration in clean energy. As Indonesia aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and China has emerged as a global leader in renewable energy technology, the relationship between the two sides is poised to enter a new era, an era driven, not by roads and rails, but by solar panels, green finance and innovation.

This developing partnership between China and Indonesia represents a broader shift in the strategic interests of both countries. For Indonesia, green energy has moved from a voluntary consideration to a national priority. Indonesia has pledged to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to 23 percent by 2025, supported by policies including the 2025 National Electricity General Plan and the recently released Ministerial Regulation No. 4/2025 on Biofuels.

China, on the other hand, has already realized most of its clean energy targets — installing more than 340 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity in 2024 alone and achieving its target of having an installed capacity of 1,200 GW of solar and wind power six years ahead of schedule.