"This is not an aid [project]. This is a collaboration between Indonesia and China. There's an element of investment here, so again not aid," President Jokowi told reporters during an inspection of a new railway station for the high-speed train in Tegalluar, at the outskirt of Bandung.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has said that the high-speed train connecting Jakarta and Bandung in West Java was an investment project and not foreign aid from the Chinese government.
"This is not aid [project]. This is a collaboration between Indonesia and China. There's an element of investment here, so again, not aid," President Jokowi told reporters during an inspection of a new railway station for the high-speed train in Tegalluar, on the outskirts of Bandung.
Jokowi also added that the Indonesian government was still in discussion with China over whether Chinese President Xi Jinping could make a stopover for a site visit in Jakarta on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in November.
"Yes, we're still in a discussion about that," Jokowi said.
Jokowi also said that the project would boost connectivity between ASEAN countries.
“This will be the first high-speed railway in ASEAN and we hope this will increase connectivity between countries, whether this [railway] will be connected further to an airport or to other high-speed railways,” he said.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.