(Jakarta) Ma Cong, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, Wang Zheng, Director of the Consular Section, Yang Sibo, First-Level Staff Member of the International Section, and Deng Longping, staff member of the Sichuan Provincial Association for the Promotion of International Exchanges of Non-Governmental Organizations, visited Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneur Association on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 4:30 pm. They were warmly welcomed by Chairman Zhang Jinxiong, Secretary-General Zhou Weiliang, and Vice Chairmen Lin Songshi, Weng Zuhui, Weng Hualing, and Li Kaiguo.
Chairman Zhang Jinxiong stated that Indonesia, as the largest economy in Southeast Asia, accounts for 40% of the entire ASEAN economy in terms of total economic output, population, and consumer market. Its resource endowment is also unparalleled, being the world's largest exporter of coal and palm oil, and possessing the world's largest nickel ore reserves. In recent years, the Indonesian government has been committed to promoting a downstream development strategy, transforming its resource advantages into industrial advantages. Indonesia is now accelerating its integration into the global supply chain, particularly in manufacturing sectors such as electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel, providing significant opportunities for global investors.
In the second quarter of this year, Indonesia's economic growth reached 5.12%, exceeding market expectations. Despite challenges such as escalating global trade tensions, the Indonesian government is confident in maintaining a GDP growth rate above 5% for the entire year.
Zhang Jinxiong stated that Indonesia's robust economic development is inseparable from its vast market and abundant human resources. With a total population exceeding 280 million and a median age of under 30, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and also home to the largest overseas Chinese population globally. The nearly 20 million Indonesian Chinese are an important member of Indonesia's diverse ethnic family, consistently maintaining harmonious relations with other ethnic groups and contributing significantly to Indonesia's economic development. Furthermore, Indonesian Chinese businesspeople are familiar with both languages and cultures, serving as a natural link between Indonesia and China for friendly cooperation.
The close cooperation between Indonesia and China is most directly reflected in trade and economic data. China has been Indonesia's largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years and has ranked among the top three sources of foreign investment in Indonesia for 9 consecutive years. In 2024, the total trade volume between the two countries reached US$147.8 billion. Direct investment from mainland China (including Hong Kong) in Indonesia amounted to US$16.3 billion. Chinese enterprises have widely participated in Indonesia's industrial parks, infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy and mining sectors, creating numerous jobs and driving economic growth, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
Sichuan, historically known as the "Land of Abundance," is a leading economic and technological province in western China. It possesses significant advantages in modern agriculture, high-end manufacturing, technological innovation, and cultural tourism, which are highly complementary to Indonesia's abundant resources and development needs, offering vast opportunities for cooperation.
Zhang Jinxiong further pointed out that we sincerely welcome the Sichuan Provincial Government and friends to visit Indonesia frequently, experience the unique charm of the "Land of a Thousand Islands," and also welcome Sichuan entrepreneurs to invest and do business in Indonesia, combining Sichuan's technology and experience with Indonesia's resources and market to jointly explore unlimited possibilities.
Zhang Jinxiong said that Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneur Association will continue to leverage its platform advantages to provide necessary support and assistance for exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, contributing positively to the economic development and cultural exchanges between the two regions! Finally, I wish all the guests a successful and fruitful trip to Indonesia.
Director Ma Cong pointed out that the main purpose of this visit to the Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneur Association was to further strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, and other fields, promote the latest developments in Sichuan Province in culture, tourism, and finance, and sincerely invite the directors of Indonesian Chinese Entrepreneur Association to take some time to visit Sichuan, explore opportunities, and seek business opportunities. After the exchange, the representatives of both sides exchanged souvenirs and took a group photo.
