Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia and Chinahave signed five cooperation contracts worth 23.3 billion USD under the SilkRoad Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives, accordingto Indonesia’s Antara news agency.
The contracts cover theconstruction of a 17.8 billion USD hydropower plant on Kayan River, a 2 billionUSD hydropower plant in Kayan, North Kalimantan, a 1.6 billion USD power plantin Bali, a 1.2 billion USD steel smelter, and the development of a 700 millionUSD industry for converting dimethyl ethercoal into gas.
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for MaritimeAffairs Panjaitan, who is the Indonesian President’s special envoy to establishstrategic cooperation with China, highlighted the importance of encouragingbusiness relations between the two countries.
The cooperation is not limited to between thegovernments but also covers companies and groups of the two nations, he added.
Panjaitan said countries in general andIndonesia in particular should seize opportunities to increase investment,create more jobs, and boost economic growth.
During bilateral talks with Panjaitan, ChineseVice Trade Minister Gao Yan highlighted potential areas of cooperation withIndonesia including the development of infrastructure, railways, toll roads,automobile production, real estate, and power plants.
Earlier on April 12, Indonesia and China signedan agreement to develop a multi-functional laboratory for a high-temperaturegas-cooled reactor.
The two countries also inked two memoranda ofunderstanding on the development of electric vehicles and the construction ofTanah Kuning Mangkupadi industrial park in northern Kalimantan.-VNA