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The 4th Indonesia and China Business Partnership Forum - 

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Ad Interim Erick Thohir said that strategic and high-quality cooperation between Indonesia and China had a positive impact on the Indonesian economy. Erick said the value of trade and investment with China had increased significantly in recent years.

"The trade balance deficit has become a trade balance surplus over the last 43 months, even reaching 3 billion US dollars last month," said Erick at the 4th Indonesia and China Business Partnership Forum in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Tuesday (5 /12/2023).

Erick said that this forum was a form of comprehensive strategic partnership that had existed since the delivery of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Jakarta in October 2013.

Erick said that the strategic partnership had also succeeded in making a number of important achievements such as infrastructure connectivity, the Jakarta-Bandung fast train, downstreaming. industry, especially critical minerals, as well as green energy and the energy transition.

The Indonesian government, continued Erick, appreciates the support from the PRC NDRC, Indonesian and Chinese BUMN, banks, whose collaboration makes the high-speed train operations a success.

He said that the cooperation between the two countries had also encouraged downstream industry which had an impact on economic growth and job creation.

"We appreciate the role of Chinese investors who have become industrial pioneers, laying the foundation and bringing significant changes to downstream industry and economic equality in Indonesia," said Erick.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday (05/12/23), Erick said that Indonesia is also encouraging increased cooperation in sustainable development to support food, energy and health security, starting from herbal and food estates, fisheries, blue economy downstreaming, deep sea research and observation, development of renewable energy, biotechnology, including the National Gene Bank with BGI .

"Talent development, vocational and vocational training, supported by cooperation in science and technology are also very important for the population of our two countries which reaches 1.7 billion people or more than 20 percent of the world's population," continued Erick.

Erick believes that cooperation based on the principles of mutual trust, respect and benefit will enable the two countries to optimize their resource advantages. This will bring benefits and prosperity to the people of both countries.

"As two large countries, both in terms of area and population, this cooperation which adheres to the principle of mutual benefit will be long-term and sustainable cooperation," continued Erick.

Erick also invited investors and business leaders to not only encourage industrial performance, but also ESG, environmentally friendly technology, and increase research and technology development in Indonesia.

Erick said the Chairman of GEM, Prof. Xu Kaihua, is an example by providing scholarships every year to dozens of Indonesian students, establishing the first Hydrometallurgical Lab in an industrial area and also building a Joint-Lab for new energy with ITB and other leading universities in Indonesia.

"The most valuable investment is investment in people. The most useful development is development that is centered on human development, development that is people-centered," said Erick.

This event was also attended by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, Chairman of China Chambers, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesian Ambassador to China in Beijing, Special Staff of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for Infrastructure and Technology/Deputy Secretary General I HDCM RI-PRC and Regional Assistant II to the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government//VOI