Premier plans trip to Indonesia in late May

The Premier of the State Council plans to visit Indonesia in late May 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi revealed at the first China-Indonesia 2+2 Ministerial Meeting.The visit comes in light of the Malaysian Prime Minister's assumption of the ASEAN chairmanship and the related summit to be organized, and China's desire to maintain and promote cooperation with Indonesia while supporting the Malaysian initiative. If the visit materializes, it will be the first visit by a prime minister since the inauguration of Indonesian President Prabowo. The premier last visited Indonesia on September 5, 2023, attending several important ASEAN-related summits. Wang emphasized that as major developing countries, China and Indonesia should uphold the principles of open, mutually beneficial and inclusive cooperation, and oppose protectionism and unilateralism, as the abuse of tariffs will harm the rights and interests of other countries and trade. Beijing is committed to strengthening regional economic integration, maintaining a stable and smooth supply chain, and advocating justice and the rule of law for the global South. At the 2+2 meeting, China and Indonesia reached a number of consensus. The two sides agreed to promote world peace and development by strengthening multilateral strategic cooperation, deepening cooperation at the United Nations, BRICS, G20 and other platforms, jointly commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 70th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference, and promoting the principle of peaceful coexistence and the Bandung Spirit. As this year coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and India, bringing new opportunities for bilateral relations, the two sides were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and agreed that the next meeting would be held in Indonesia. In addition, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic dialogue.