China and Indonesia Pledge to Advance 'True Multilateralism,' Says Li

JAKARTA: According to the official Xinhua news agency, China’s Premier Li Qiang stated on Saturday that both China and Indonesia aim to advance "genuine multilateralism" during his two-day trip to Southeast Asia's biggest economy, which commenced upon his arrival in Jakarta.

Since U.S. President Donald Trump declared significant import duties on China’s trade partners earlier this year, China has stepped up its involvement with nations in the area.

Several taxes have been postponed, meanwhile China and the U.S. decided this month to suspend certain tariff measures. As Jakarta’s primary trade ally is China, the city has proposed various compromises to the U.S. with hopes of reducing tariffs imposed on Indonesia.

During a business leaders' event held later on Saturday, where Li was also in attendance, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the relationship between Beijing and Jakarta plays a crucial role in maintaining regional stability. He further stated that Indonesia considers China to be a vital collaborator in advancing industries and technological development.

He similarly commended China for safeguarding the interests of developing nations and taking a firm stance against "imperialism" and "colonialism."

Prabowo and Li plan to convene a meeting on Sunday to explore ways of bolstering ties between Indonesia and China, as stated by Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani.

After visiting Jakarta, Li will proceed to Malaysia for the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit as per Xinhua reports.