Bakom RI Calls for Data-Based Information on Indonesia-China Ties

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Communication Office of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (Bakom RI) urges the public dissemination of comprehensive, data-based information on economic cooperation between Indonesia and China. Head of Bakom RI Muhammad Qodari, has said that effective public communication is needed to help people gain a more comprehensive understanding of developments in investment and trade between the two countries.

He made the statement at the Indonesia-China Digital City and Security Technology Application Forum 2026 in Jakarta on Monday September 21, 2026. He said Bakom RI is tasked with coordinating government policy communication from the central government to the regional level, including providing information to audiences both in Indonesia and abroad.

He said the economic relationship between Indonesia and China is an issue of significant public interest and therefore needs to be explained using accurate data. “Trade between Indonesia and China reached 167 billion US dollars last year, and China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years,” Qodari said.

In the investment sector, Qodari said Chinese direct investment in Indonesia reached 3.9 billion US dollars in the first half of 2026. He added that some of the investment entering Indonesia through Hong Kong also originated from Chinese companies, particularly in the mineral downstreaming sector.

Qodari said the figures should not only be presented at forums but also communicated to the public in a comprehensive manner. “Because sometimes issues surrounding foreign investment can easily be distorted, with people only hearing parts of the information,” he said.

To strengthen public understanding, Qodari encouraged people to make a habit of verifying economic information through official sources, such as Statistics Indonesia (BPS) and the Ministry of Investment. He said this practice is important to prevent inaccurate information from spreading within society.

He also said the Forum Masyarakat Indonesia Emas (FORMAS) could serve as a government partner in communicating economic and investment activities across different regions. He said FORMAS’s extensive network could help explain the impact of economic policies more directly to communities, including their effects on employment, local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and supply chains.

Meanwhile, Chairman of FORMAS Yohanes Handojo Budhisedjati said digital technology development should be directed toward delivering tangible benefits to communities. He emphasized that Indonesia-China cooperation in technology should not stop at business transactions, but should also create jobs, strengthen national industries, and improve the welfare of people in both countries.