Beijing, April 19, 2025 — The Europe Today: China and Indonesia will hold their first-ever 2+2 format ministerial dialogue on April 21 in Beijing, marking a new chapter in the two nations’ growing strategic partnership. 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, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.
At a press briefing in Beijing, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described the event as a landmark dialogue and a reflection of China’s deepening ties with Indonesia. “This is the first 2+2 dialogue organized by China, showing our firm commitment to advancing our strategic partnership with Indonesia,” Lin said.
The meeting, officially named the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue, stems from the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo Subianto during their two meetings last year. The dialogue will focus on bilateral political and security cooperation, as well as regional and international strategic coordination.
This milestone comes amid the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, with Lin emphasizing the two nations as “close and reliable partners separated only by the sea.”
During the meeting, ministers are expected to exchange views on regional stability, defense cooperation, and shared strategic interests, while also strengthening the foundation for future collaboration in key sectors including military technology transfer and joint training programs.
In a precursor to this dialogue, Defense Minister Sjamsoeddin met with Dong Jun in January to explore avenues for enhanced military ties and deeper defense industry cooperation.
Indonesia and China have long engaged through the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), with five rounds held to date. Former Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi last met Wang Yi at the JCBC in August 2024, where she reaffirmed Jakarta’s commitment to strong bilateral ties post the leadership transition from President Joko Widodo to President Prabowo Subianto.
Marsudi noted at the time that China remains one of Indonesia’s most significant partners, with over US$37 billion in Chinese investment funneled into Indonesia between 2014 and 2024.
The upcoming 2+2 dialogue is set to become a cornerstone in the evolving diplomatic and security architecture between the two nations, as they navigate shared challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.
