From Shrimp Ponds to New Hopes: The Trail of China-Indonesia Blue Economy Cooperation

In Lamba Village on Bangka Island, Indonesia, a shrimp farmer named Ejak always arrives on time at the edge of the pond every dawn. With a focused gaze, he inspects the three shrimp ponds under his responsibility. It is hard to imagine that this skilled worker, two years ago, was a tin miner struggling to make ends meet. From the darkness of mine tunnels to the blue gleam of shrimp ponds, Ejak has spent two years mastering modern aquaculture technology introduced by a Chinese company—a journey undertaken in pursuit of a more prosperous life and realising the dream of building a new home.

The “Telling China’s Story” team from the Shenzhen Media Group’s International Communication Centre traced Ejak’s story to Lamba Village to document the transformation in his life. The video highlights the integrated cycle-based shrimp farming solution brought by the Chinese company—not only preserving the marine environment but also driving the regional industry and increasing local community incomes.

The year 2026 marks the five-year anniversary of China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI). For Dr. Pan Yue, Deputy Director of the Indonesia Studies Centre at Jinan University, who was involved in the video production, the environmentally friendly aquaculture approach promoted by China is not just about protecting the “blue home” in the local area but also generating tangible economic impacts for local people like Ejak. In two years, he was able to build a new home—a achievement that reflects the effectiveness of this collaboration. Ultimately, Ejak’s story affirms a simple principle: when technological innovation goes hand in hand with care for the living environment, the balance between economic benefits and natural sustainability is not impossible.

Pan Yue also explained that the core philosophy of the GDI is rooted in an equal and mutually beneficial cooperation model. This cooperation is not based on the logic of “I have the technology, and you don’t, so you must follow me,” but rather “I share this technology with you so that we can develop together.” The shrimp pond story on Bangka Island serves as a real portrait of the steps taken by China and Indonesia to translate this vision, while also strengthening South-South cooperation.