The China (Shandong) – Indonesia Investment, Trade, Culture and Tourism Exchange Week, which kicked off on March 23, provided opportunities for Shandong province to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Indonesia in related fields, according to local officials. 

The week-long event, held in Dezhou city, Shandong, is designed to serve as a high-level platform for exchanges between Shandong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, and further strengthen cooperation between 16 Shandong cities and Indonesia, with an array of activities.

These activities involve a business contact fair, the China (Shandong) – Indonesia University Exchange Meeting, an exhibition of Indonesian paintings and photos, and the Indonesian Featured Products Exhibition.

An opera performance is staged at the opening ceremony for the China (Shandong) – Indonesia Investment, Trade, Culture and Tourism Exchange Week in Dezhou city, Shandong province on March 23. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Indonesia and China have set an example for major developing countries collaboration that brings win-win cooperation," said Djauhari Oratmangun, Indonesian ambassador to China, "As comprehensive strategic partners, Indonesia and China have established a number of cooperation, such as the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative."

He hoped that a regular cooperation event like the exchange week will be held in the future "to promote the economic and people-to-people relation between our two countries".

An Indonesian dance is performed on March 23. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shandong government has maintained close exchanges with Indonesia in recent years, said Deng Yunfeng, vice-governor of Shandong, at the opening ceremony. In 2022, foreign trade value between the two sides was valued at 72.6 billion yuan ($ 10.6 billion), 45 percent higher than the previous year.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Indonesia. Indonesia is the largest economy in ASEAN, with rapid development in agriculture, manufacturing and services. 

Shandong hopes to bolster cooperation with Indonesia in the fields of trade, modern agriculture, energy and mineral resources, and industrial park development, and foster new growth areas such as green, low-carbon and digital economy in the future, according to Deng.

The China (Shandong) – Indonesia Universities International Cooperation Alliance is estiblished on March 23. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The China (Shandong) - Indonesia Universities International Cooperation Alliance was estiblished during the event. The alliance proposals to hold annual meeting regularly and promote various forms of exchanges and cooperation between universities of both sides, including personals, scientific research projects, and educational resources and platforms.

Dezhou University, one of member of the alliance, will carry out jointly training programs for master's and doctoral students with Indonesian universities and promote practical cooperation in the fields of chemical materials, electronic information, biopharming, biophysics, as well as textiles and clothing, according to Li Yongping, vice-president of Dezhou University. 

According to Li, the two sides will also jointly build an international education practice base to carry out long- and short-term exchange programs among mutual students, and customize summer vocation programs, for Indonesian students, focusing on Dezhou's intangible cultural heritages, such as local operas, acrobatics and handicrafts.