Indonesian hospitality and cross-border collaboration are powering Southeast Asia's first high-speed rail project, according to Chinese technician Wang Kunpeng. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway – a flagship infrastructure project connecting Indonesia's capital to its third-largest city – has become a melting pot of technical expertise and cultural exchange.
"We've built more than tracks – we've built trust," Wang told local media while recalling his experience training Indonesian colleagues on railway operations and maintenance. The project, developed through cooperation between Indonesian and mainland Chinese enterprises, represents a new model for technology transfer in emerging markets.
Wang emphasized the project's ripple effects: "When our Indonesian partners master these systems independently, it elevates regional infrastructure capabilities." The railway reduces travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from 3 hours to 40 minutes, potentially reshaping economic activity in West Java.
The collaboration has sparked interest among sustainability advocates and urban planners watching how cross-cultural teams tackle challenges ranging from tropical terrain to supply chain coordination. With 90% of project managers being Indonesian nationals, the partnership demonstrates growing South-South technical cooperation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
