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Editorial | As China and Indonesia strengthen ties, Hong Kong has a role to play
The SCMP’s China Conference: Southeast Asia highlighted the synergies between the world’s second-largest and Asean’s biggest economies
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Global tension and uncertainty make this a pivotal moment to affirm regional engagement. A gathering in Jakarta this week did just that. The South China Morning Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia 2026 brought together leaders, policymakers and businesses. It was the first time this flagship conference was held in Indonesia. The mission was to connect the world’s second-largest economy, China, with Southeast Asia’s biggest. Both nations are at critical junctures. China is embarking on its 15th five-year plan while Indonesia aims for developed-nation status within 20 years.
That is a bold ambition for Indonesia. It targets sustained gross domestic product growth of 8 per cent. To achieve this, Indonesia welcomes investment from both China and the United States – pragmatism that reflects confidence in charting its own path. It also recognises Hong Kong’s key role as a “superconnector” between China and the world. The city offers access to capital as well as a common law system that Indonesia could tap into so it can bolster the rule of law and business environment to attract quality investment.
An update for the conference on China’s next five-year plan by former Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying, now a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, underlined opportunities for bilateral collaboration. China’s policy priorities – including innovation and sustainability – align with Indonesia’s development goals. A video message from Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the success of the city’s free-trade pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was a testament to a shared commitment to free trade.
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The conference sessions, notably with Hashim Djojohadikusumo, businessman and younger brother of President Prabowo Subianto, and Indonesia’s top economic minister Airlangga Hartarto, revealed Jakarta’s eagerness to attract investment and its openness to partnerships with China and Hong Kong. They underscored the complementarity between Indonesia’s needs and China’s capabilities, along with Hong Kong’s connectivity. The presence of numerous mainland Chinese firms showed an appetite for engagement across sectors from infrastructure to technology.
The Southeast Asia edition of the SCMP’s China Conference is a platform for dialogue between China and regional partners, connecting global leaders with stakeholders and business partners. In that regard, Hong Kong’s Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan told a conference session that the city is growing its role as an international arbitration hub, while pushing forward with professional services to help mainland companies go global. He described Hong Kong as an “irreplaceable bridge”.
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