TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China emphasized growing cooperation and good relations with Indonesia amid social media frenzy regarding President Prabowo Subianto's remark about "uninvited guests" during the 79th National Cooperatives Day commemoration.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said the government has closely monitored various reports on Prabowo's speech in Jakarta on Sunday, July 12, which subsequently sparked discourses on Chinese social media.
"China noted relevant reports. The interpretation of individual media outlets has been proved to be not factual at all. China and Indonesia are friendly neighbors and each other’s important cooperation partners for development," Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
Lin stressed that trade and investment ties between the two countries have always been built on the basis of mutual benefit.
He also cited the Indonesian government's repeated commitment to deepening cooperation with China, particularly in the industrial and supply chain sectors, while welcoming investment by Chinese companies in Indonesia.
"We believe that China and Indonesia, as two major developing countries, enjoy promising prospects of cooperation and that Indonesia will continue to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and foster a sound environment for their investment and operation there," Lin said.
Lin's statement came after various speculations arose following President Prabowo's speech about safeguarding national interests against "uninvited" foreign investors who claimed trading intentions but instead "robbing" Indonesia, without naming any specific country.
Prabowo added that Indonesia is known for its friendly and open nature toward guests. In fact, he said, people strive to provide the best service to guests, despite their limitations.
"Even if we don't have coffee or sugar, we welcome them. If necessary, we can borrow sugar and coffee from our neighbors," he said, adding that this gesture is not always reciprocated.
Clips of the speech circulated widely on Chinese social media, sparking numerous comments questioning whether President Prabowo's statement was directed at China.
Some social media comments stated, "We can't trust Indonesia, they will continue to cause trouble," while others questioned, "Why invest in Indonesia?"
However, the Chinese government emphasized that these interpretations do not reflect the reality of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, which has been steadily growing through trade, investment, and development cooperation.
Read: Indonesia Joins China-Led Global AI Body WAICO
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