Trade Worth Rp2,800 Trillion, Indonesia Opens KJRI in Chengdu Targeting China's Western Economic Hub
The Indonesian government is broadening the reach of its economic diplomacy in China by opening the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This step is taken in light of the substantial value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and China, which has surpassed $167 billion or approximately Rp2,800 trillion in 2025.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to China and Mongolia, Djauhari Oratmangun, stated that the opening of KJRI Chengdu is nearing realisation after the President of Indonesia signed Presidential Regulation No. 10 of 2026 as its legal basis.
“This reflects Indonesia’s priority to continue enhancing strategic cooperation between Indonesia and the southwest China region, with Chengdu in Sichuan Province serving as its ‘gateway’,” said Djauhari in a written statement.
According to him, the southwest China region, particularly Sichuan, holds significant potential to be developed as a strategic partner for Indonesia. Several sectors that are the focus of cooperation include industry and downstreaming, renewable energy such as solar panels, health, battery storage development, and energy ecosystems.
In addition to economic cooperation, inter-community relations are also being strengthened through the education, tourism, and cultural sectors. Djauhari cited the birth of a panda cub named “Ksatrio” at Bogor Safari Park as a symbol of the close ties between Indonesia and Sichuan, which is renowned as a panda conservation centre.
The tourism sector is also seen as increasingly promising, with the opening of direct flights from Chengdu to Jakarta and Bali. This is expected to boost tourist flows while strengthening connectivity between the two regions.
Meanwhile, the authorities of Sichuan Province have welcomed the plan to open the KJRI positively. The Party Secretary of the Communist Party of China in Sichuan, Wang Xiaohui, described his region as one of China’s major economic centres with a gross domestic product of around $1 trillion in 2025, along with 5.5% economic growth.