November 11, 2024
JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto ended his state visit to China on Sunday and left directly for the United States as his administration seeks to maintain balanced ties with the two rival powers.
Prabowo, who is seeking to make Indonesia more active on the global stage while sticking to the country’s traditionally nonaligned policy, kicked off his first foreign tour as President by jetting off to China on Friday. At least four other countries are on the itinerary.
After arriving in Beijing on Friday night, Prabowo held a series of high-level talks on Saturday, beginning with a bilateral meeting with Zhao Leji, the chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), and Chinese Premier Li Qiang later that day.
Prabowo also met with President Xi Jinping at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, where the two leaders reaffirmed the long-standing ties between the two nations and expressed their commitment to deepening them.
“I would like to reiterate our commitment to enhance this relationship and to work together for the mutual benefit of our two peoples and for the prosperity, peace and stability of all of Asia,” Prabowo said during the meeting, as quoted from a video clip distributed by Prabowo’s office.
Prabowo and Xi also witnessed the signing of several key agreements and memorandums of understanding, including on blue economy cooperation and mineral resources.
“Our relationship is getting stronger and stronger. China is a strategic economic partner of Indonesia, a top investor in Indonesia, and we thank you very much for your support,” Prabowo added.
Xi, in return, expressed strong support for Prabowo’s leadership and showed his appreciation that Prabowo had picked China for his first foreign destination as President.
“China is fully committed to supporting President Prabowo’s administration, and we believe that under his strong leadership, Indonesia will continue to follow its path of independent development,” Xi said, as quoted by Antara.
On Sunday, Prabowo attended the Indonesia-China Business Forum, which saw the signing of business agreements between the Indonesian and Chinese private sectors said to be worth some US$10 billion.
Prabowo was accompanied on the trip by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Investment and Downstream Minister Rosan Roeslani, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono as well as Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
A handful of deputy ministers as well as Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal M. Tonny Harjono and Navy chief of staff Adm. Muhammad Ali also formed part of the President’s entourage.
More world leaders
Prabowo and his team left China on Sunday afternoon to make their way to the US, where he is expected to meet with President Joe Biden.
Plans are also underway for Prabowo to meet with president-elect Donald Trump, who will return to the White House in January.
Trump won by a landslide in a polarizing race against Vice President Kamala Harris, amid warnings that a second term for the Republican candidate could have far-reaching implications for international cooperation.
After the US, Prabowo will visit Peru for the APEC summit and Brazil for the Group of 20 Summit, before ending in the United Kingdom, where he will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Visits to some Middle Eastern countries may also be on Prabowo’s agenda as he makes his way back to Indonesia at the end of the two-week tour.
Balancing act
Foreign policy expert Teuku Rezasyah said Prabowo’s decision to make China his first foreign visit was geared toward ensuring that his administration remained in its good graces.
“[Prabowo] is seeking to recognize China’s leading role [on the global stage] and make it seem like [Indonesia] has put them above their biggest rival [the US],” Teuku told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
With Prabowo’s first outing in China as President seeing the signing of some economic agreements, Teuku predicted that the Prabowo administration would likely continue to maintain close trade ties with China but would lean closer to the US in defense and military cooperation under president-elect Trump.
“I think Prabowo knows how to position himself between Xi and Trump to the extent that he could be a good bridge between the two. Prabowo can be outspoken like Trump but is familiar with Chinese culture and philosophy,” Teuku said.