Bandung Spirit cherished as guide for neighbors' friendly relations

Premier Li Qiang's three-day visit to Indonesia that started on Saturday has fulfilled its objective of elevating political mutual trust and strategic coordination between the two countries to a higher level.

Apart from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Speaker of Indonesia's House of Representatives Puan Maharani and other senior Indonesian officials, Li also met with representatives of the country's business community.

Li took advantage of these meetings to express China's commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability, promoting regional common development and sustaining the stability of regional industry and supply chains, and introducing China's opening-up policy, high-quality development strategy and development strengths in relevant industries.

Facing risks and challenges, China has intensified counter-cyclical macro policy adjustments, and implemented a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy, Li said.

It is expected that through the face-to-face communications with the Chinese premier and the ministers in his delegation, his Indonesian hosts can be better aware of the strategic importance China attaches to Sino-Indonesian relations, and its sincerity to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and promote the China-Indonesia community with a shared future.

As Li said, the Chinese side stands ready to consolidate cooperation in the "five pillars" of politics, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchange, maritime affairs and security, jointly address risks and challenges, and better promote common development.

China has always taken Indonesia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. China is willing to work with Indonesia to enhance the alignment of development strategies, and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, especially by optimizing and strengthening landmark projects.

To that end, as Li urged, the two sides should enhance market connectivity and industrial collaboration, improve the level of trade and investment facilitation, and expand cooperation in areas such as finance, new energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, aerospace and the ocean.

The Chinese side is willing to work with Indonesia to strengthen exchanges between their legislative bodies and inter-party cooperation, and enhance policy communication and the sharing of governance experiences.

The two sides should ensure the implementation of landmark and important projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, facilitate two-way trade and investment, and jointly create a fair and favorable business environment.

They also need to expand cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy, green development and artificial intelligence, enabling higher-level mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, Li noted.

While expanding their common interest through pragmatic economic and trade cooperation, the two countries should expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, deepen cooperation in areas related to people's livelihood such as food and agriculture, poverty reduction and health, and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

The cooperation and communication can help synergize their efforts to not only pursue common development but also respond to the rising uncertainties and risks in the external development environment.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. Over the past 70 years, the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation has provided guidance for the independent and self-reliant development of Asian and African countries.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 75 years ago, the two countries have supported each other and stood by each other, and their traditional friendship has remained firm and ever-relevant. That historical legacy and the robust momentum of the healthy development of bilateral ties in recent years should be cherished.

China and Indonesia should further carry forward the Bandung Spirit, strengthen solidarity and coordination, promote the practice of true multilateralism, and work together to address challenges, so as to boost and share prosperity. Solidarity and cooperation remain the only viable path forward to confront the risks and challenges that lie ahead.