Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto vowed to strengthen Indonesia's relationship with China during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Saturday, marking his first overseas trip since taking office three weeks ago. Subianto, seeking to build closer ties with China, which is Indonesia's largest trading partner and a key investor, emphasized the long-standing relationship between the two countries. "Indonesia considers China not only as a great power but as a great civilization," Subianto said, highlighting the historical connection between the nations. "It is natural that now, in the present geopolitical and geoeconomic situation, Indonesia and China have become very close partners in many fields." In response, Xi expressed support for Subianto's administration, thanking him for choosing China as his first destination. Xi also expressed confidence that Indonesia would continue to follow an independent development path, making new progress and playing an important role on both the international and regional stages. Earlier, Subianto met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress and the No. 3 official in China's ruling Communist Party. Subianto, who is on the first leg of a multi-country tour, will visit several other nations, including the U.S. and the U.K. His schedule suggests Indonesia will maintain its neutral stance between China and the U.S. Subianto is expected to meet U.S. President Joe Biden and president-elect Donald Trump early next week. A former general, Subianto, 73, is seeking to continue the modernization agenda of his predecessor, Joko Widodo. Under Widodo, Indonesia's economic ties with China flourished, with China becoming Indonesia's largest trading partner and investing in major infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and Cirata, Southeast Asia's largest floating solar power project. During the meeting with Xi, Subianto announced that Indonesia would sign over $10 billion in deals, covering sectors including fishing, mining, housing, and trade. Subianto also signaled a more active foreign policy for Indonesia, which has expressed interest in joining the BRICS bloc of developing economies. While Indonesia maintains a relatively neutral position in the South China Sea, where territorial disputes have escalated, there are ongoing tensions between Indonesia and China. The two countries signed agreements on maritime safety, joint fisheries development, and oil and gas exploration in the disputed waters. However, the details of these agreements were not disclosed. Subianto's visit comes at a time of rising tensions between China and Southeast Asian nations over maritime claims in the resource-rich region. Indonesia has been increasingly assertive in defending its exclusive economic zone, particularly around the Natuna Islands, which overlap with China's "nine-dash line." — Agencies
