Latest news with #China-Indonesia
The Star
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Indonesia reaches major milestone with high-speed rail developed by China,
A cabin crew member greeting passengers at Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 19, 2025. - Xinhua BEIJING: South-East Asia's first high-speed railway has surpassed 10 million passenger trips as of Wednesday (June 25), marking a major milestone in China-Indonesia infrastructure cooperation, according to China Railway International. Since launching operations in October last year, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway has run nearly 30,000 passenger train services, safely covering more than 4.63 million kilometres. The service has maintained stable operations and delivered a fast, efficient and comfortable travel option that has been widely embraced by both commuters and tourists, the company said. The rail line, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative jointly developed by Chinese and Indonesian partners, links the capital city of Jakarta with the tourism hub of Bandung. With trains reaching speeds of up to 350km per hour, the line has cut travel time between the two cities from more than three hours to just 46 minutes. Passenger traffic has shown strong growth, especially during major holiday periods such as Christmas and Ramadan, the company said. Daily train services have increased from 14 to 62, boosting seating capacity from about 8,400 to more than 37,000. Peak daily ridership has reached 25,000 trips, with some trains recording occupancy rates of up to 99.6 percent. The high-speed rail has become a game changer for many Indonesians. Rahmanda, who runs a transportation consultancy in Jakarta, said the service has helped him reach clients on time. "The punctuality and reliability of the train ensure that I can meet clients without worrying about traffic delays," he said. To improve the passenger experience, the operator has expanded online ticketing options with flexible refund and rescheduling policies, while maintaining offline counters and offering multiple payment methods. Stations are equipped with fast-food outlets, convenience stores and beverage bars, and onboard amenities include cafes, snacks and facilities for passengers with disabilities. Operations are managed by the Sino-Indonesian Operation and Maintenance Consortium, which has applied China's advanced experience in scheduling, safety risk management and emergency preparedness. Special protocols have been adopted to ensure operations continue safely during earthquakes, heavy rain and landslides. A key focus of the project has been localising operations. More than 600 Indonesian trainees have completed qualification programmes, with 263 receiving certification from Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation. Among them, 34 train drivers can now operate trains independently under the guidance of Chinese experts. Another 20 emergency responders and 20 station control staff have also become fully operational. Agus Dewiono Widodo is one of Indonesia's first certified high-speed train drivers. "I am proud to be part of this historic achievement," he said, crediting the mentorship of his Chinese colleagues, including high-speed train driver Zhang Yue. The successful transfer of knowledge and skills has laid the groundwork for Indonesia to independently manage and operate the rail line in the future. China Railway International said the two countries' railway companies will continue optimizing services and expanding capacity to ensure the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway remains a reliable and high-quality transportation option. - China Daily/ANN
Korea Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Bridges Beyond Borders
BEIJING, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Report ASEAN: On April 12, a 200-kilogram shipment of fresh coconuts departed from Jakarta, Indonesia, bound for Changle Airport in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. After customs inspection, the coconuts were promptly transported to the Yuanhong Investment Zone, the Chinese side of the China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project. This marked the first import order following China's General Administration of Customs announced that it would allow imports of fresh coconuts from Indonesia that meet relevant requirements in November 2024. The coconuts would undergo deep processing at the China-Indonesia Coconut Industrial Park in Yuanhong and be made into products such as coconut milk, coconut oil, and coconut beverages for distribution across China. Indonesia is the world's largest grower and producer of coconuts, with an output of 17.88 million tons in 2024. Meanwhile, China's coconut market holds enormous potential, as demand for products like coconut water and fresh coconut lattes has surged in recent years, particularly among younger consumers. The first shipment of fresh coconuts from Indonesia was imported by Fujian Miaotianhui Food Co., Ltd. At the customs site, business manager Lin Zhengrong noted that the coconuts had been harvested just the morning before from trees on Indonesia's Sumatra Island. The region's volcanic soil and rainforest ecosystem give the coconuts a sweet, abundant juice, making them ideal for both direct consumption and as premium food ingredients. The launch of fresh coconut trade between China and Indonesia marked a breakthrough in tropical agricultural cooperation and provide domestic consumers with a richer consumer experience, said Lin Zhengrong. He noted the tangible benefits brought by the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project such as streamlined approvals handled collectively by the park and expedited customs clearance through a "green channel," saving significant time for businesses. Thanks to trade facilitation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and deepening cooperation under the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" model, the company plans to regularly import Indonesian coconuts in large volumes and build a comprehensive and integrated production line within the park. Currently, four production lines in the China-Indonesia Coconut Industrial Park have been put into operation, and a transnational industrial cluster that spans the entire value chain from primary to deep processing is taking shape. The China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project was first proposed by the government of Fujian Province in 2019. This innovative model of capacity cooperation involves two sovereign nations establishing industrial parks within each other's borders to promote coordinated development. The concept was pioneered in 2012 with the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Kuantan, Malaysia. "As a latecomer, the China-Indonesia twin parks have been learning from the China-Malaysia experience while also charting their own course based on distinct resource endowments and development paths," said Zhou Qingning from the Administrative Committee of Yuanhong Investment Zone. China's first cooperative development zone built with overseas Chinese investment, Yuanhong Investment Zone has played a pivotal role in advancing the China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project. Leveraging the strength of Indonesian Chinese enterprises and the region's expertise in food processing, Yuanhong had already developed a diversified industrial system centered on grain, oil, and food products, with textiles and synthetic fibers as complementary sectors. In 2021, representatives from both governments signed a memorandum of cooperation for the project. China designated Yuanhong Investment Zone in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, as the Chinese park, and Indonesian authorities selected the Bintan Industrial Estate, Aviarna Industrial Estate, and Batang Industrial Estate collectively as the Indonesian park. In January 2023, the State Council of China approved the establishment of a China-Indonesia joint demonstration zone for economic innovative development in Fuzhou, marking the transition of the Twin Parks initiative into full-scale implementation. Today, Chinese and Indonesian enterprises are leveraging the Twin Parks project to explore deeply integrated models of international division of labor and cooperation, giving rise to a "Two Countries, Twin Factories" approach that aligns with China's dual-circulation development strategy. For example, the Salim Group, Indonesia's biggest conglomerate, is partnering with China's Saneheld (Fuqing) Food Co., Ltd. to build a global fishery center. With a total investment of 5 billion yuan (US$684.93 million), the project includes two fishery bases in Tuban on the north coast of Java. The first was established in March 2022, and construction of the second base, covering about 4 hectares, began in January 2024, with trial production slated for December 2026. Zhaohua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing City is collaborating with an aquatic products company from Indonesia to develop a shrimp farming base under the Zhaohua brand, with a total investment of 300 million yuan (US$41.16 million). The farming and primary processing projects of the base have already been launched in Indonesia, the third-phase farming project is underway, and negotiations are ongoing for an advanced processing line. Fujian Miaotianhui Food Co., Ltd. is another shining example of "Two Countries, Twin Factories" cooperation. Its core management team has been engaged in seafood processing, trade, and export since the 1990s. The company operates aquaculture bases in Indonesia, with products shipped to China for processing and then distributed through a global network to over 60 countries and regions. While food processing remains a pillar industry with deep roots and clear advantages, the industrial development blueprint for the China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" initiative reaches well beyond this single sector. According to the China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" Industrial Cooperation Plan released in 2022, industrial parks should focus on building five major cross-border industrial chains, namely marine fisheries, tropical agriculture, light industry and textiles, machinery and electronics, and green mining. The goal is to foster deep integration of industrial, supply, and value chains across borders. Data from the Yuanhong Investment Zone showed that by 2024, 73 bilateral cooperation projects had been launched under the project, with a total investment of approximately 93 billion yuan (US$12.76 billion). The China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project has been included in several national plans including the National Development and Reform Commission's list of key overseas projects under the BRI and the Ministry of Commerce's business development plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan period and high-quality development plan for foreign trade. Inspired by this cooperation model, other cities in Fujian including Zhangzhou and Longyan are also advancing construction of similar "Two Countries, Twin Parks" partnerships with the Philippines and Serbia.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Roundup: Indonesian durian eyes China's massive market potential
JAKARTA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- After an agreement last month between Indonesia and China regarding the export protocol for frozen durian, Indonesia's authentic durian now has the opportunity to expand its market to China. "Indonesian durian has a great opportunity in the Chinese market, depending on how we can produce durian that can compete with durian from other countries," Eliza Mardian, a researcher at the Center of Reform on Economics Indonesia, told Xinhua on Tuesday. China is the world's largest durian consumer. However, Indonesia has barely participated in the booming Chinese durian market. According to data from Statistics Indonesia, out of nearly 2 million tons of Indonesian durian produced last year, only 27 tons were exported to China. In fact, from January to May 2025, no durian was exported to China, leaving Indonesia far behind Thailand and Vietnam. Eliza said that the main obstacles to exporting durian from Indonesia to China were logistics and licensing issues. The long distance means that delivering fresh durian from Indonesia takes longer than from Thailand, which affects its quality. However, now that Indonesia and China have signed the export protocol agreement, licensing will no longer pose a major hurdle. Under this protocol, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency becomes a trusted regulator recognized by Chinese authorities to ensure the food safety of frozen durian products to be exported to China. Eliza encouraged the Indonesian government to provide various forms of support to farmers, including broad dissemination of export requirements, facilitation of plant health certification or phytosanitary measures, access to capital, and the development of logistics networks and adequate infrastructure, such as frozen storage warehouses. The China-Indonesia durian export protocol agreement has also been warmly welcomed by local governments and industry players in Central Sulawesi Province, where durian is one of the region's key agricultural commodities. As the main durian-producing area in the province, Parigi Moutong Regency currently has over 1,100 hectares of durian plantations with more than 110,000 trees, according to the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The regency also boasts 16 durian packaging houses that meet international standards, underscoring its readiness to enter the export market. Governor of Central Sulawesi, Anwar Hafid, expressed his strong commitment to developing the local durian industry during a focus group discussion on June 4 about durian exports to China. He noted that the province is determined to harness its durian production potential to penetrate the Chinese market more seriously.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
China extends 10-day visa-free transit policy to Indonesia
BEIJING: China granted Indonesian citizens a visa-free transit stay of up to 10 days on Thursday (June 12), expanding the countries that enjoy the policy to 55. China's visa-free transit policy applies to 60 ports in the country. Citizens from the 55 countries holding valid international travel documents and interline tickets with confirmed dates and seats to a third country or region can enter China visa-free at any of the 60 ports, and stay in designated areas for as long as 10 days. These travellers are allowed to engage in tourism, business, exchange visits or family visits. Expanding the policy to Indonesia will help boost the good momentum of China-Indonesia cooperation, and make bilateral trade and investment more convenient, an official with the National Immigration Administration said. - China Daily/ANN
RTHK
24-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Premier Li arrives in Indonesia for official visit
Premier Li arrives in Indonesia for official visit Premier Li Qiang arrived in Indonesia on the first stop of his Southeast Asia tour. Photo: AFP Premier Li Qiang on Saturday said China and Indonesia should further carry forward the Bandung Spirit, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and promote the practice of true multilateralism. The premier added that China stands ready to work with Indonesia to continuously enrich the China-Indonesia community with a shared future and jointly pursue the path of modernisation. He said China and Indonesia have set an example of major developing countries working together to become stronger and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results. Li made the remarks upon his arrival in Jakarta for an official visit to Indonesia at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Following the visit, Li will travel to Malaysia and attend the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur next week. (Xinhua)
