JAKARTA, Indonesia: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticised “unilateralism” on Friday as China and Indonesia opened high-level talks on economic, security and defence cooperation.
Wang made the remarks alongside Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono during the first Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue between the two countries, according to the Jakarta Globe.
He said that unilateralism and what he called “hegemonism” had harmed global development. Meanwhile, Wang is visiting Indonesia for two days and is joined by Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun.
The two foreign ministers were expected to focus first on economic cooperation before joining Dong and Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin for a 2+2 security and defence meeting. Sugiono said both sides had identified new areas of cooperation while addressing existing challenges.
China and Indonesia also agreed to expand defence ties through more joint military exercises, personnel exchanges and defence-industry cooperation.
Dong said the two countries would work to accelerate defence modernisation and strengthen security cooperation.
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Bilateral trade reached about USD 167.4 billion last year, with China remaining Indonesia’s largest trading partner.
Earlier this month, the two countries also held their first joint naval drill in waters east of Taiwan, which Jakarta described as a routine maritime diplomacy activity
