Indonesia's President and China's PM discussed tariffs, Malaysia said - let us unite

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang met Sunday with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to explore means to expand trade and investment amid a global trade war by the US and challenges in global economic integration. Li made a stopover in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on Saturday afternoon at the start of a three-day visit to Indonesia, a country with Southeast Asia's largest economy. The visit was at the beginning of his first foreign visit this year.

China and Indonesia are two out of 20 major developing nations and emerging markets, and member nations of BRICS. Li invited 60 top businesspeople from China to his address at Sunday evening's Indonesia-China Business Reception. He emphasized in his speech that the economy of China this year rose at a quick pace despite increasing external challenges.

"The current international situation is in a state of stalemate, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, bullying behaviour is on the rise," Li said at the event, where Subianto was also present.

Li said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement, which was organised by Asian and African countries in the Indonesian city of Bandung when the world was at a historic crossroads more than seven decades ago. Li said the Bandung spirit of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation has played an important role in the unity and cooperation of countries of the Global South.

"More than seven decades later, the world is once again at a crucial crossroads," Li said, calling on all countries to seek common ground while resolving differences through dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohammad Hassan said on Sunday that Southeast Asian countries should accelerate regional economic integration. They should diversify their markets. He said that we should unite to deal with the disruptions in global trade caused by tariff hikes by the US.

While opening the meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Mohammad also called on the parties involved in the deadly civil war in Myanmar to end hostilities. Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since the military took over the government in 2021.