Widodo invites Chinese firms to back infrastructure projects in Indonesia
Widodo says he hopes AIIB can be a tool for financial stability
Beijing and Jakarta agreed to develop a "maritime partnership" yesterday as the visiting Indonesian president said his country was firmly behind a new China-backed investment bank.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo also called for more Chinese private firms to invest in his country's infrastructure and pledged to work closely with Beijing to fight graft and terrorism, Chinese state media reported.
Widodo arrived in Beijing yesterday for a three-day state visit, and is expected to attend the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province . "Indonesia supports the [Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank] and hopes it can be a tool for financial stability," Widodo said in a joint appearance with President Xi Jinping after their talks.
Chinese and Indonesian government agencies also signed eight agreements, including deals on taxation, high-speed rail, aerospace and marine search and rescue.
Widodo said he hoped the two countries could reach a currency swap deal and have US$150 billion in bilateral trade by 2020. "Upon realising this goal, we can both better experience our strategic partnership, in a more specific and practical way," he said.
