Xi Jinping's Early Efforts to Lobby Indonesian President-Elect Prabowo

The newly elected president, Prabowo Subianto, who previously served as the Defense Minister, held a significant meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, Apr. 1. During the encounter, Prabowo conveyed President Joko Widodo's regards to Xi Jinping and expressed his delight in choosing China as his first destination after assuming office. "We will continue the policy of friendship with China," he stated, as quoted by the Xinhua news agency.

Xi Jinping, in turn, congratulated Prabowo on his presidential victory and reminded him of the rapidly developing and fruitful bilateral ties over the past decade. Xi said both sides have made the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway an exemplar of high-quality bilateral cooperation.

He added that China views its relations with Indonesia from a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to deepen all-round strategic cooperation with Indonesia. China will work with Indonesia to build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future that has regional and global influence.