China’s premier says China and Indonesia will promote ‘true multilateralism’

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China's Premier Li Qiang (2nd L) is greeted by Indonesian officials upon his arrival at the Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta on May 24, 2025. (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang being greeted by Indonesian officials upon his arrival in Jakarta on May 24.

PHOTO: AFP

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SHANGHAI/JAKARTA - China's Premier Li Qiang said on May 24 that China and Indonesia will promote "true multilateralism", the official Xinhua news agency reported, as he landed in Jakarta on a two-day visit to South-east Asia's largest economy.

China has intensified engagement with countries in the region since US President Donald Trump

announced hefty import tariffs

on its global trading partners earlier this year.

Some levies have since been delayed, while China and the US

agreed this month to pause

some of their tariffs.

Jakarta, whose biggest trading partner is China, has

offered the US a number of concessions

in a bid to soften tariffs against Indonesia.

At a business leaders' event later on May 24, at which Mr Li was present, Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto said relations between Beijing and Jakarta were key for regional stability, adding that Indonesia views China as an important partner in developing industry and technology.

He also praised China's role in defending the interests of developing countries and its stand against "imperialism" and "colonialism."

Mr Prabowo and Mr Li will hold a meeting on May 25 to discuss how to strengthen Indonesia-China relations, Indonesian investment minister Rosan Roeslani said in a statement.

Following the visit to Jakarta, Mr Li will travel to Malaysia to attend the Asean-GCC-China Summit, Xinhua reported. REUTERS

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