Head of the Center for Policy Strategy for the Asia Pacific and Africa Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vahd Nabyl, remarked that the US is Indonesia's important partner in trade and investment, defense armament system procurement, and health.
"The US remains the largest contributor to Indonesia's (trade) surplus even though in terms of trade value, China is the largest contributor," Nabyl stated in a BRIN seminar broadcast on YouTube here on Thursday.
The US is also Indonesia's important partner in the modernization of its defense systems. Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto recently visited the US to voice the commitment to purchase 24 new F-15EX fighters from the US.
The US is also Indonesia's partner in the efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS, Polio, Zika, non-communicable diseases, and COVID-19, he stated.
Meanwhile, he remarked that Indonesia and China have enjoyed close cooperation in various fields, including defense, investment, tourism, trade, health, and infrastructure.
In 2022, China's investment value in Indonesia had reached US$8.2 billion (equivalent to Rp127 trillion), while the total trade was valued at US$133 billion (Rp2 quadrillion). In that year, China was Indonesia's second-largest investor.
In the health sector, Indonesia and China have collaborated on COVID-19 vaccines and genomics, medicinal raw materials and sister hospitals, and established cooperation between Bio Farma-Sinovac and Kimia Farma-Sinopharm.
China also contributed to Indonesia's high-speed train project, the Bali Turtle Special Economic Zone, and the construction of Kuala Tanjung port, as well as involved Indonesia in the Global Maritime Fulcrum-Belt and Road Initiative, Nabyl stated.
Indonesia and China have established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since October 2013, while Indonesia and the US have just established the same level of bilateral relations since November 2023.
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Translator: Shofi A, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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