Disputes in the South China Sea will not overshadow the top agenda item of economic cooperation during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Beijing on Friday – on his first overseas tour since last month’s inauguration.
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The 73-year-old ex-general’s visit could serve as an opportunity to push China-Indonesia relations to a new level, according to Beijing. Subianto will be in China until Sunday and will meet his counterpart Xi Jinping and premier Li Qiang.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China is willing to work with Indonesia and “take this visit as an opportunity to consolidate high-level political mutual trust and deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation”.
Speaking at the ministry’s regular press briefing on Tuesday, Mao added that the two sides could “continuously elevate the construction of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future”.
This will be Subianto’s second visit to China since he was confirmed as Indonesia’s president-elect. Days after his sweeping election victory was confirmed in March, Subianto headed to Beijing.
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Mao said this reflected the importance the Indonesian leader places on strengthening bilateral relations. She added that the visit also showed the high level of China-Indonesia ties and hailed Indonesia as China’s “good neighbour” and “partner”.