Indonesia, China Meet in Lake Toba to Discuss Investment, Covid-19 Handling

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi are scheduled to meet in Lake Toba, North Sumatera on Tuesday afternoon, January 12.

“Wang Yi, who is also China’s State Councilor, will visit Lake Toba after he visits Myanmar, but before he’s going to Jakarta,” a spokesperson for Luhut, Jodi Mahardi, told Kompas.com on Tuesday.

“Wang Yi had planned to visit Toba in February last year. But it was postponed due to the Covid-19,” Jodi added.

Jodi went on to say that the meeting would discuss various issues, including investment.

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“The meeting will discuss investment issues, strategic projects, and cooperation in the tourism sector. Also, it will discuss matters on Covid-19 handling and national economic recovery,” he said.

Wang Yi is also scheduled to meet President Joko Widodo on Wednesday, January 13, which coincides with the first mass Covid-19 inoculation program in the country. The President, who is popularly known as Jokowi, will be the first person to receive the Covid-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac. 

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“Wang Yi will have an audience with the President on Wednesday afternoon in Jakarta,” he said.

Last year, President Jokowi sent Luhut to make an official visit to Yunnan. During his meeting with Wang Yi in China, they discussed various issues ranging from trade and investment, health, and vaccines to education, research, and e-commerce. The two also touched on the issues of artificial intelligence, cultural and people exchanges.