Maritime Silk Road.

Indonesia’s Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani believes that the BRI will not only promote Indonesia’s infrastructure and connectivity with other ASEAN countries but also upgrade its software including trade facilitation measures such as improved customs clearance. By participating in the Belt and Road construction, developing countries can accelerate their economic development with higher quality and inclusiveness.

Agustinus Wibowo, a young Indonesian Sinologist, thinks that as an initiative designed to achieve lasting win-win results through cooperation, the BRI is in lockstep with Indonesia’s national interests and development needs.

Inclusive Maritime Cooperation

China-Indonesia cooperation has been fruitful in the political realm. China and Indonesia have established three dialogue mechanisms at deputy prime ministerial level for political security,economics and cultural exchange. The leaders of the two countries have agreed to build three pillars of comprehensive cooperation at bilateral,regional and global levels under the framework of the China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership to better support development of bilateral relations. Several demonstration projects will upgrade bilateral cooperation in sectors of textiles, automobiles, electronics, chemicals and food and beverages.

Many demonstration projects have been built already. Construction of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, which will connect the Indonesian capital with its fourth largest city, is proceeding at top speed. Jatigede Dam, the second largest irrigation project in Indonesia, will nourish irrigation area of 90,000 hectares. The China-Indonesia Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone is hosting nearly 20 Chinese companies including China XD Group and China Mengniu Dairy.Morowali Industrial Park has become a major industrial base of nickel and stainless steel from a remote fishing village. In Indonesian shopping malls, Chinese mobile phone brands such as VIVO,OPPO and MI are common. They have earned a solid reputation in the local market, seizing more than a third of the market share.

A ceremony commemorating Chinese maritime explorer Zheng He in Semarang, Indonesia on July 31, 2016.

In the future, Sino-Indonesian cooperation in various sectors will continue to boom. Indonesian Ambassador to China Sugeng Rahardjo believes that Indonesia has recognized the need for partners in marine infrastructure construction with various cooperation models such as public-private partnership (PPP) and build-operate-transfer (BOT).The China-proposed 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will undoubtedly help Indonesia achieve its transformation from the largest archipelagic country to “Global Maritime Fulcrum.”

Bilateral cooperation between China and Indonesia has been a win-win relationship between two maritime powers with effective policy communication, infrastructure linkage, trade flow and friendly exchanges between the people.According to Professor Wang Yiwei at Renmin University of China, the 21st Century is an era for ocean development. The grand visions of the“21st Century Maritime Silk Road” and the “Global Maritime Fulcrum” are expected to promote inclusive maritime development for all mankind.

Jusuf Wanandi, vice president of the Indonesian Centre for Strategic and International Studies(CSIS), thinks the guidance of such grand visions creates broad prospects for cooperation. The world and the region both face great uncertainty today.The synergy of the development strategies of two important Asian countries will make a positive impact on the overall development of the region.