China and Indonesia to focus cooperation on AI and maritime sectors

Beijing (ANTARA) - China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China and Indonesia will focus on cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and maritime affairs following the first Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue (CSD) held in Jakarta on 21 August 2026. Previously, Indonesia and China had a High-Level Dialogue and Cooperation Mechanism (HDCM) led by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. One of the outcomes of that cooperation was Indonesia’s involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (Whoosh) as its flagship project.

“This mechanism will provide institutional support for China-Indonesia relations in the new era. Both sides will deepen cooperation in new quality productive forces such as artificial intelligence (AI), and accelerate maritime cooperation,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.

According to Lin Jian, the CSD was successful because China and Indonesia agreed to deepen the alignment of their respective development strategies and will begin drafting a new action plan for 2027-2031. “Both countries believe that deepening cooperation in energy and mining serves the interests of both countries, and expressed readiness to establish a comprehensive, open and more environmentally friendly partnership,” Lin Jian said.

Lin Jian also said China is willing to help Indonesia better transform its resource advantages into a driving force for development and accelerate the industrialisation process, so as to benefit the Indonesian people. “Moreover, during the meeting, the Indonesian side gave a positive assessment of the contribution of Chinese companies in Indonesia and affirmed that ‘The success of Chinese companies in Indonesia is also Indonesia’s success’,” Lin Jian said.

Lin Jian said Indonesia is willing to provide a fair, transparent and friendly business environment. “The two countries also jointly oppose external interference in each other’s internal affairs and will enhance cooperation in political, security and defence fields, and agreed to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Lin Jian stressed.

Amid a world at a crossroads between cooperation or confrontation, Lin Jian said China and Indonesia, as developing countries and important members of the Global South, will deepen strategic coordination and strengthen solidarity and cooperation. “In addition, since the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway began operations, the service has continued to run safely and smoothly. The high-speed railway has effectively improved transport conditions and provided convenience for local people’s mobility,” Lin Jian said.

Lin Jian stressed that China is willing to work with Indonesia by utilising the CSD mechanism to continue promoting high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation and produce more cooperative achievements, in order to provide new impetus for the modernisation process of each country.

The first CSD meeting took place on 21 August 2026 in Jakarta, attended by Foreign Minister Sugiono and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the start of the Indonesia-China Action Plan 2027-2031 as a continuation of the 2022-2026 Action Plan. The two countries agreed to deepen the alignment of development strategies, support balanced and sustainable trade development, and strongly expand cooperation in new quality productive forces such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Also discussed was China’s AI-based meteorological early warning system, which has begun trials in Indonesia and is believed to play a role in helping Indonesia cope with extreme climate. Both countries share the view that deepening cooperation in energy and minerals serves their common interests and agreed to build a comprehensive, open and green energy and mineral resources cooperation partnership.

China and Indonesia agreed to deepen technological cooperation in food and agriculture, exchange experiences on poverty reduction and alleviation, food security, health, culture and education, youth, and inter-regional relations, so as to continuously improve the welfare of the people of both countries.

The two countries also committed to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea, strive for the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly shape a new narrative of a peaceful, friendly and cooperative South China Sea.

The second CSD will be held next year in China. The CSD itself is a new bilateral mechanism at foreign minister level established when Sugiono visited Beijing in April 2025. In addition to the CSD, the 2nd Meeting of the 2+2 Dialogue Mechanism between the foreign ministers and defence ministers of Indonesia and China was also held, attended by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun.

In that meeting, China and Indonesia agreed to strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation in combating transnational crime, pursuing fugitives and recovering criminal assets, as well as supporting participation in international cooperation to eradicate telecommunications and online fraud. The two countries will also implement maritime security cooperation documents and maintain the security and smooth flow of major shipping lanes.

The 2+2 meeting focused on the “Five Pillars”, namely economy, people-to-people relations, maritime affairs, politics and security. The first 2+2 meeting was held in Beijing in April 2025 as a follow-up to the meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and President Xi Jinping.