Arlina Arshad, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has hailed Indonesia's deepening ties with China as a pillar of peace and prosperity in the South-east Asia region, as he welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Jakarta for a three-day working visit.
"Our two countries each have a long history, and now we have become partners who have a comprehensive strategic relationship. We see that this relationship will bring good, not only to our two countries, but to the entire Asian region, and perhaps even the world," Mr Prabowo said at the start of a meeting between delegations from the two countries at the presidential palace on May 25.
"Indonesia and China have a great responsibility to create a safe and prosperous region," he added.
Mr Prabowo said Indonesia will continue to support and accelerate the completion of Code of Conduct negotiations that aim to manage tensions and prevent conflict in the South China Sea.
The Indonesian President called China "a decisive partner in this effort".
Several Asean member states have overlapping territorial claims with China in the disputed waterway.
Mr Li's visit – his first to Indonesia since Mr Prabowo took office in October 2024 – is geared towards deepening bilateral cooperation and sustaining the momentum of high-level engagements.
Mr Prabowo met Chinese President Xi Jinping twice in 2024 and received a phone call from him in April.
At the palace, Mr Li was accorded a 19-gun salute, held a one-on-one meeting with Mr Prabowo, and was hosted to a state lunch.
The two leaders also witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding, including in banking and economic cooperation, as well as tourism, agriculture, health and traditional medicine.
Mr Li said his trip aims to advance cooperation following a key agreement that was reached between Mr Xi and Mr Prabowo when they met in November 2024, to build a "China-Indonesia community of destiny with regional and global influence", which he described as having "brought bilateral relations to a new height in history".
He said China was ready to work with Indonesia to strengthen ties and tackle global challenges together "to benefit our peoples".
Mr Li also said he was keen to "exchange opinions with the President on the issues we are concerned about".
"The current international situation is chaotic, and the development of peace has faced many new uncertain and unstable factors. China and Indonesia are good neighbours and good partners," he added.
On May 24, Mr Li's arrival was marked by a military guard of honour on the airport tarmac.
That evening, at a reception with business leaders, Mr Prabowo described ties between the two nations as "very strategic, very important and very promising".
The visit comes against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China, which has prompted several countries in the region to recalibrate their strategic and economic alignments.
China's regional outreach has stepped up in response to sweeping import tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump – some of which have since been delayed – while Jakarta, whose largest trading partner is China, has extended concessions to Washington in a bid to ease pressure on Indonesian exports.
In January 2025, Indonesia became the first South-east Asian country to join the China-led Brics grouping spearheaded by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
It has since emerged as a vocal advocate for greater Asean involvement in the bloc, whose members collaborate on trade, development and global governance issues.
Mr Li's visit is seen as an opportunity to advance joint initiatives under the Indonesia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Since its launch in 2013, bilateral trade has more than doubled, rising from US$52.45 billion (S$67.4 billion) to US$135.17 billion in 2024, the Jakarta Post reported.
China is also Indonesia's top foreign investor, with investments totalling US$8.1 billion in 2024 alone, the newspaper reported, citing data from Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board.
Underscoring China's strategic importance, Mr Prabowo noted on May 24 that Beijing was his first overseas destination after being declared President-elect, and again within weeks of taking office.
He highlighted Chinese involvement in key infrastructure and industrial initiatives, including the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line, industrial parks and downstream nickel development.
The Indonesian leader credited China with helping to accelerate the country's industrial and technological endeavours, and invited Chinese firms to broaden their investments in sectors such as education, healthcare, tourism, and science and technology.
He also praised China's stance on international issues, including its support for the Palestinian cause and "for standing up for the oppressed peoples of the world".
"China and Indonesia can show the world how power can be used for good, power can be used for shared prosperity, in a win-win relationship," Mr Prabowo said. "I am sure that Indonesia and China will become the pillars of stability and prosperity in Asia."
Both leaders are set to travel to Kuala Lumpur for regional meetings this week.
Mr Prabowo will attend the 46th Asean Summit, while Mr Li will take part in the inaugural Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council-China Summit, where discussions are expected to focus on regional stability, economic cooperation and maritime security.
[Additional reporting by Michelle Ng. Arlina Arshad is The Straits Times' Indonesia bureau chief. She is a Singaporean who has been living and working in Indonesia as a journalist for more than 15 years.]