REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xiao Qian said diplomatic relations between his country and Indonesia have achieved great progress over the last 20 years. He also mentioned that this progress was achieved in leadership era of President Xi Jinping and President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in recent years.

"I feel lucky to be one at the right time, over the past 20 years, China has achieved great progress, Indonesia has achieved great progress and China-Indonesia relations have also achieved great progress, especially under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Jokowi," said Xiao through press release statement on Tuesday (Feb 27).

Xiao said President Xi Jinping and President Jokowi have reached consensus to strengthen comprehensive strategic partnerships. Indonesia and China always maintain communication and dialogue, and even consultation at all levels covering various fields.

More over, Xiao said the economic and trade relations between China and Indonesia have grown stronger. China becomes Indonesia's biggest trading partner for seven consecutive years. Last year's bilateral trade amounted to 63.3 billion US dollars, a 18.3 percent increased compared to the previous year.

Then, Indonesia's export to China also increased by 33 percent. Xiao said it has made the trade between the two countries more balanced.

Chinese investment in Indonesia has reached 3.4 billion US dollars last year, an increase of more than 30 percent. Major cooperation projects including the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, are under construction. Meanwhile, new driving forces keep emerging in such sectors as infrastructure, industrial capacity and digital economy, expanding and deepening the two countries practical cooperation.

"This has broadened and deepened our practical cooperation," Xiao added.

Furthermore, the vigorous people-to-people and cultural exchanges between our two countries have reached historical new height. China ranked as Indonesia's largest source of foreign tourists. The number of Chinese tourists to Indonesia reached 2.06 million last year, breaking a new record.

Then, more than 14,000 Indonesians are studying in the Bamboo Curtain country. It makes China as the second most popular overseas education destination for Indonesian students.

The growing diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia are also marked by the sending of two giant pandas that have the names of Cai Tao and Hu Chun. Both of these adorable animals have made their home in Indonesia. They are expected to continue to contribute in maintaining the relationship and to the ever closer friendship between people of the two countries.

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