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Indonesian-Chinese people-to-people relations: Growing but underdeveloped
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Chinese tourists standing in front of a souvenir street stall in Bali. (thejakartapost.com/Raditya Margi)
E
ducation and tourism are the foundations of people-to-people relations, concluded speakers in the sixth Indonesia-China bilateral relations seminar conducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The symposium was held under Chatham House Rules, meaning The Jakarta Post cannot attribute arguments or opinions to their sources. The rule aims to foster a free discussion between participants.
“Seek knowledge even in China,” is a popular saying among Muslims in Indonesia. However, it was not until 2012 that the first Chinese branch of the Indonesian Students Community (PPI) was established. Currently there are about 15,000 Indonesian students in China, as more universities there are offering courses in English.
The interest goes both ways. The Chinese are growing more interested in Indonesia, as proven by the increasing amount of research about Indonesia, as well as the increasing number of research collaborations between the two countries. China and Indonesia have similar levels of development, so they face the same challenges like poverty reduction, climate change and energy shortages. Exchanging experience and knowledge contributes significantly to the research being done by the two countries.
Aside from the language barrier, a lack of funding is an obstacle. Speakers agree that private corporations should provide scholarship funds for students studying abroad.
Students are important bridges between the two countries. There are concerns regarding anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia, which speakers claimed was often exaggerated by the media. It does not help that news about China and Indonesia is often reported by Western media instead of by correspondents from the two countries.
People-to-people relations through student exchanges and tourism play a key role in clearing up misunderstandings regarding treatment of Chinese people in Indonesia or treatment of Muslims in China.
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo aimed to get 20 million foreign tourists to visit his country in 2016. Half were expected to come from China. (dmr)
