RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry moved quickly to reaffirm the strength of its ties with Indonesia, underscoring that bilateral cooperation remains on solid footing despite speculation sparked by President Prabowo Subianto’s recent remarks at the 79th National Cooperative Day.

Spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing had closely followed coverage of President Prabowo’s speech in Jakarta on July 12, which drew varied reactions on Chinese social media.

He stressed that “interpretations by certain outlets are entirely inconsistent with the facts,” adding that China and Indonesia are “friendly neighbors and important development partners.”

Lin highlighted that trade and investment relations between the two countries are built on mutual benefit. He also cited repeated statements from Jakarta affirming its commitment to deepen cooperation with China, particularly in industrial and supply chains, while welcoming Chinese investment.

“As two major developing nations, China and Indonesia have promising prospects for cooperation," Lin said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday, July 16, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

"We believe Indonesia will continue to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and foster a favorable environment for investment and operations,” he added.

His comments came in response to speculation following President Prabowo’s speech, in which the president used an allegory about guests who overstay their welcome or take advantage of hospitality.

Though he did not name any country, clips of the remarks circulated widely online, prompting debate in China about whether the comments were directed at Beijing.

Some social media users questioned Indonesia’s reliability as a partner, while others raised doubts about investing there. Yet the Chinese government emphasized that such interpretations do not reflect the reality of bilateral relations, which continue to expand through trade, investment, and development cooperation. ***