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Jokowi jets off to China once more
The President jets off to Chengdu on Thursday to meet with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and talk trade and investment – but also the nation's outstanding debt to China.
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President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo (right) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali on November 16, 2022.
(AFP/Achmad Ibrahim)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo heads to Chengdu, China, on Thursday to meet with frequent collaborator Xi Jinping and talk trade and investment, in line with his economic ambitions but amid outstanding debt to Beijing.
It is the second trip Jokowi has made to China in as many years, and it will likely see him try to woo more Chinese business to Indonesia. Jokowi will arrive almost exactly one year after his last visit to Beijing, during which he discussed the continuity of Chinese infrastructure projects in the country.
Over the past decade, the government has leaned closer to the East Asian power, which it regards as a reliable partner willing to fund the nation’s continued development.
However, delays and ballooning costs from some mainline projects have fueled criticism that Beijing’s international lending amounts to debt bondage.
This has not deterred Jakarta from continuing to court Chinese investment, given that the nation is relatively insulated from financing pressures, some insiders contend.
During Jokowi’s visit, the economy will again be at the core of his engagements, with cooperation on electric vehicles (EV) expected to dominate the talks.
“The President’s main agenda will be holding a bilateral dialogue with [Xi], and he will also meet with many prominent Chinese businessmen,” Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
