RRI.CO.ID, Shanghai – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, held a high-level bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Shanghai, China, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. During the meeting, both sides discussed several strategic initiatives ranging from global Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance and the expansion of trade access to the acceleration of investment.

According to a ministry press release, Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed that Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressed appreciation and gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo for his cooperation in becoming a founding member state of the WAICO organization. Indonesia received this recognition for representing a country with a large economy and population that co-signed the establishment of WAICO.

He also noted that Indonesia’s participation in this signing ceremony was carried out under the direction and with the full support of President Prabowo. Prabowo expressed his appreciation for President Xi Jinping’s initiative and leadership in establishing WAICO.

The Indonesian government hopes that global AI governance will prioritize the principle of equitable distribution of the benefits of development. Furthermore, this development must also be centered on people, national sovereignty, and inclusive and coherent multilateralism in accordance with UN principles.

As one of the founding member states, Indonesia holds a strategic position within WAICO. Therefore, Coordinating Minister Airlangga proposed to Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Indonesia be considered for a key position within the organization’s secretariat.

It was also emphasized that the Indonesia-China synergy, grounded in the spirit of the Global South, transparency, and respect for digital sovereignty, is not aimed solely at building physical infrastructure. Airlangga noted that this effort is also intended to secure economic resilience and a legacy of technological innovation for future generations of both nations.

In a warm and cordial atmosphere, at the end of the meeting, Coordinating Minister Airlangga expressed his readiness to be contacted directly by Foreign Minister Wang Yi at any time to discuss various strategic issues and challenges, particularly those related to Chinese businesses investing in Indonesia. The Coordinating Minister also invited Foreign Minister Wang Yi to meet again during his upcoming visit to Indonesia.