Jokowi: Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation Must Not Be Politicized

Liputan6.com, Beijing - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized the importance of avoiding politicization in the collaboration related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), especially in the current global context marked by growing divisions. He asserted that it is essential to sustain the harmonious cooperation of BRI in the field of infrastructure development.

Jokowi delivered this message during the inauguration of the third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. The event witnessed the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and several other heads of state.

"I would like to extend my congratulations on the ten-year anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). My hope is that the collaborative efforts in infrastructure development under the BRI can persevere. In the face of a world marked by growing divisions, it is vital that BRI cooperation remains free from politicization," Jokowi expressed during his appearance on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

"This necessitates our collective endeavors to uphold the core principles, thereby reinforcing this initiative and amplifying its influence," he elaborated.

In the forum, Jokowi communicated three key points. To begin with, he underscored the significance of granting host countries the autonomy to independently execute their national projects.

"Because a sense of ownership is very important in project sustainability," he said.

Jokowi mentioned that Indonesia is currently involved in a national project, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (KCJB), which is already operational and closely aligned with the BRI.

Domestically, the project received criticism due to its swelling budget. Jokowi then gave permission for this project to use the national budget, even though at the beginning the government said would not use national budget.