Editorial | Li Qiang’s Indonesia visit highlights rapid change in world order
As American tariffs disrupt global trade, new alliances are being formed, with Beijing leading the way
The United States’ global tariff war has done no harm to trade and cooperation between other countries. It has prompted and energised them to nurture and develop their own relations.
The uncertainty that has riled markets and troubled business has therefore had a silver lining.
There is no better example in this part of the world than China – the world’s second-largest economy – and Indonesia, the biggest economy in Southeast Asia, which is also China’s biggest market.
Premier Li Qiang has just spent three days in Indonesia, highlighted by talks with President Prabowo Subianto, a rallying address to business leaders and agreement on diverse bilateral issues.
They ranged from trade and investment to cooperation in finance, agriculture, artificial intelligence, new energy, tourism, people exchanges and more.
This follows President Xi Jinping’s call with Prabowo in April, in which he vowed to deepen his country’s strategic partnership with Indonesia.
Later Li attended a joint meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Gulf Cooperation Council in Kuala Lumpur.