Jakarta - Bernardino M. Vega, Vice Chairman for International Relations of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), emphasized the importance of Indonesia's partnership with China, extending beyond trade into other strategic sectors.

He conveyed this message during the event Celebrating 75 Years of Indonesia-China Friendship, held at the Shangri-La Hotel on Monday evening (August 25, 2025).

“China plays a significant role not only in trade but also in investment. These investments span multiple sectors not only digital, but also minerals, infrastructure, and more. This is something we hope will continue and grow, allowing Indonesia to enjoy prosperity from within our own region,” said Dino Vega, as he is familiarly known.

Dino Vega further noted that global investment competition has positioned Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, as an attractive destination.

“If we look at investment in Southeast Asia last year, the largest amount came from the United States, followed by China. Indonesia has become the anchor of the region,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Garibaldi Thohir, Chairman of KADIN Indonesia’s China Committee (KIKT), commonly known as Boy Thohir, described 2025 as a special milestone in Indonesia-China diplomatic relations.

According to him, bilateral cooperation has expanded across diplomacy, trade, technology, culture, and education.

“This year is a special year for Indonesia-China diplomatic relations, built on sustained collaboration. At KIKT, we continuously strive to work closely with the Indonesian government to ensure that bilateral economic cooperation between Indonesia and China proceeds smoothly,” Boy Thohir said.

As part of the celebration, he added, KIKT recently undertook a 5,000-kilometer overland journey from Chongqing to Jakarta using renewable energy-powered vehicles.

Boy Thohir described the journey as a symbol of future ASEAN-China connectivity.

“Thank God, after more than two weeks, the renewable energy vehicles arrived safely in Jakarta. This symbolizes broader collaboration between the ASEAN region  particularly Indonesia and China,” he added.

Also attending the event, Indonesia’s Minister of Housing and Settlements, Maruarar Sirait, remarked that Indonesia-China relations have developed very positively over the past decade, marked by increasing investment and more frequent high-level visits.

“In my view, the relationship has grown stronger over time. The indicators are clear investment is rising, visits by leaders are more frequent, and joint collaborations are increasing. These are signs of a mutually beneficial and trustworthy relationship that prioritizes Indonesia’s national interest,” said Maruarar, popularly known as Ara.

Ara emphasized that Chinese investment plays a key role in job creation and high-quality economic growth in Indonesia.

“We adhere to an independent and active foreign policy. We welcome any party willing to invest tangibly in Indonesia. China has been very positive in this regard and respects Indonesia’s foreign policy approach,” he concluded.