In a significant diplomatic gesture aimed at reinforcing regional alliances, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced that China and Indonesia will work together to promote “true multilateralism”. The statement, reported by China’s official Xinhua News Agency, came as Li arrived in Jakarta on Saturday for a two-day official visit to Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Li’s visit highlights Beijing’s growing emphasis on fostering ties with Southeast Asian nations at a time when global trade dynamics remain volatile. Since the beginning of the year, the United States—under President Donald Trump’s administration—has imposed hefty import tariffs on multiple global trading partners, including China. Although some of those tariffs have been delayed or partially paused following recent negotiations between Beijing and Washington, the broader uncertainty has encouraged China to seek more stable and cooperative relationships in its immediate region.
Indonesia, whose largest trading partner is China, finds itself navigating this complex geopolitical terrain. In an effort to cushion the impact of American tariffs, Jakarta has reportedly offered the U.S. a series of trade concessions. Nonetheless, the Indonesian government is increasingly looking eastward, with a growing emphasis on strengthening regional cooperation and diversifying its economic partnerships.
Premier Li’s arrival was marked by high-level engagements with both government and business leaders. At a business forum held on Saturday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Li and emphasized the strategic importance of Indonesia-China relations. “The relationship between Beijing and Jakarta is key for regional stability,” Prabowo stated, adding that Indonesia considers China an important partner in developing its industrial and technological capacity.
Prabowo also used the occasion to commend China’s longstanding support for the Global South. He praised Beijing’s role in advocating for the interests of developing nations, particularly in international forums, and its resistance to what he called “imperialism” and “colonialism.” The language echoed sentiments from the 1955 Bandung Conference—hosted in Indonesia—where newly independent nations, including China, gathered to establish a non-aligned front against Western dominance.
The theme of “true multilateralism” featured prominently in Premier Li’s remarks and represents an ideological counterpoint to the unilateral trade and foreign policy measures recently employed by the United States and some of its allies. Chinese officials have used the term to argue for a rules-based, inclusive global order that respects the sovereignty and development rights of all nations—especially emerging economies.
According to Indonesian Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani, a formal meeting between Premier Li and President Prabowo is scheduled for Sunday, where the two leaders are expected to discuss deepening cooperation across a range of sectors including infrastructure, technology, green energy, finance, and maritime affairs. Minister Roeslani noted that both nations are committed to expanding bilateral trade and investment flows, building on an already strong economic foundation.
China has been a significant investor in Indonesia’s infrastructure development, including its participation in major projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line. The visit also comes amid increasing discussion about conducting more bilateral trade in local currencies, a move seen as an attempt to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and promote financial resilience within the region.
Following his visit to Jakarta, Premier Li is set to travel to Malaysia, where he will attend the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, an event that further underscores China’s strategic pivot toward Southeast Asia and the broader Global South. The summit is expected to address not only trade and investment but also regional security, sustainable development, and digital cooperation.
Analysts see Li’s Southeast Asia tour as part of China’s broader diplomatic response to a global environment increasingly defined by fragmented supply chains, protectionist tendencies, and geopolitical rivalries. With the U.S. recalibrating its Indo-Pacific strategy and elevating ties with countries like India, Japan, and the Philippines, Beijing is working to consolidate its relationships within the ASEAN bloc, which represents a combined population of over 650 million and a rapidly growing economic zone.
Li’s visit also carries symbolic weight. It comes at a time when Indonesia is undergoing a transition in leadership, with President Prabowo preparing to shape his own foreign policy approach after taking office. His warm welcome of the Chinese delegation suggests a desire to continue, if not deepen, the robust economic and diplomatic ties built under the outgoing administration.
In a world increasingly marked by division and competition, the affirmation of “true multilateralism” by two of Asia’s largest nations signals a concerted push for inclusive cooperation. As global powers jockey for influence, the Jakarta-Beijing axis appears poised to play a more prominent role in shaping the future of regional—and possibly global—governance.
