Seven decades after establishing diplomatic relations, China and Indonesia are witnessing grassroots enthusiasm for stronger collaboration between their 1.4 billion and 277 million people. Young professionals, entrepreneurs, and students from both nations shared their visions for cross-cultural partnerships with myglobalnews.net.
Tech Bridges, Cultural Bonds
'I recently collaborated with a Jakarta-based startup through a mentorship program,' says Liu Wei, 28, a Beijing AI developer. 'Combining our tech expertise with Indonesia's booming digital economy could redefine Southeast Asia's innovation landscape.'
Jakarta culinary entrepreneur Putri Suryadi, 24, highlights growing mutual cultural interest: 'Our street food tours now include Chinese tea ceremony demonstrations. Tourists from the Chinese mainland often share stories about Bali's growing popularity back home.'
Trade Winds Blow Strong
Bilateral trade surged to $124 billion in 2023, with renewable energy and EV battery projects driving growth. 'Our nickel processing partnerships are crucial for sustainable tech development,' notes University of Indonesia economics lecturer Dr. Arif Mansur.
Next-Gen Collaborators
Language exchange apps and cross-border hackathons gain traction among Gen Z users. Shanghai-based digital nomad Chen Yutong explains: 'The Bali-Beijing remote work pipeline offers hybrid cultural experiences we couldn't imagine a decade ago.'
As both nations prepare to co-host multiple ASEAN events in 2024, respondents emphasized youth-led environmental initiatives and creative industry partnerships as key growth areas.
Reference(s):
We Talk: Chinese and Indonesian people hope for closer cooperation
cgtn.com
