Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia will ensure that the country’s interests are prioritized at the Belt and Road Forum in China, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said in Cakung, West Java on Tuesday.

"Indonesia's interests should be fulfilled through cooperation within the framework of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative," Kalla said.

For Indonesia, its national interests would take priority at the forum, the vice president remarked and added that the country should not follow the concept of the new Chinese silk line.

"We do not follow all the concepts. But we put our interests first, the interests of Indonesia," he stated.

One Belt One Road is a collaboration in the field of connectivity. The cooperation offers assistance to those countries which are part of OBOR to build infrastructure projects such as ports, highways, and trains.

The second Belt and Road Forum will be held in China from April 26, 2019.

Leaders including heads of state and government from 37 countries will attend the forum's roundtable summit, Xinhua reported.

Twelve thematic forums and a CEO conference would be held on April 25, the opening ceremony and a high-level meeting on April 26, and the leaders' roundtable on April 27, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

There are 37 countries attending the forum, according to Wang. These are Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brunei, and Cambodia, in addition to Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, and Egypt.

Other countries which will be attending are Ethiopia, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, and Italy, in addition to Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, and Malaysia.

Also attending are Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea, along with the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, and Switzerland. Completing the list are Tajikistan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

The secretary-general of the United Nations and the managing director of the International Monetary Fund will be attending the forum, Wang said, adding that senior representatives of France, Germany, Britain, Spain, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the European Union will also participate.

Translator: Bayu Prasetyo, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Sri Haryati
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