China and Indonesia will hold their first-ever ministerial dialogue in the 2+2 format on April 21 in Beijing, marking a new chapter in their expanding strategic partnership. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the meeting will bring together Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin with their Chinese counterparts, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and National Defense Minister Dong Jun.
Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described the event as a landmark dialogue and a reflection of China’s growing ties with Indonesia at a press briefing in Beijing. Lin stated, “This is the first 2+2 dialogue that China has organized, demonstrating our firm commitment to advancing our strategic partnership with Indonesia.”
The agreement reached by President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo Subianto during their two meetings last year led to the meeting’s official title, the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue. Regional and international strategic coordination, as well as bilateral political and security cooperation, will be the primary topics of discussion.
This milestone occurs during the 75th anniversary of China and Indonesia’s diplomatic relations. Lin emphasized that the two countries are “close and reliable partners separated only by the sea.” The ministers are expected to discuss regional stability, defense cooperation, and shared strategic interests during the meeting. They will also strengthen the foundation for future collaboration in important areas like the transfer of military technology and joint training programs.
Prior to this conversation, Defense Minister Sjamsoeddin met with Dong Jun in January to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the defense industry and the military. Five rounds of engagement have been held between China and Indonesia through the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC). Wang Yi was last seen by former Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the JCBC in August 2024.
During that meeting, Wang Yi reaffirmed Jakarta’s commitment to maintaining strong bilateral ties following the leadership change from President Joko Widodo to President Prabowo Subianto. At the time, Marsudi said that China is still one of Indonesia’s most important partners. Between 2014 and 2024, China will invest more than US$37 billion in Indonesia.
As the two nations deal with the same issues in the Asia-Pacific region, the upcoming 2+2 dialogue is expected to become a key component of the diplomatic and security architecture that is developing between them.
