It is obvious to all that Mazuji, the former speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, said that the "the Belt and Road" has benefited the ASEAN economy in the past decade | China | Speaker

[Global Times reporter Zhao Jue, Li Xuanmin, Hu Yuwei, Special correspondent Xu Junhao of the Global Times] This year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal to jointly build the "the Belt and Road".As a witness of China Indonesia cooperation and the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road", Mazuji recently said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times that 2013, when Chinese leaders proposed the "the Belt and Road" initiative, "is definitely an important year". In his view, in the past decade, the "the Belt and Road" initiative has promoted regional connectivity, strengthened ties between China and ASEAN countries, and benefited the people of ASEAN, "which is obvious to all".

Global Times: Ten years ago, you witnessed Chinese leaders delivering important speeches in the Indonesian parliament, proposing for the first time the initiative to jointly build the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road". Can you talk about your feelings?

Mazuki: 2013 is definitely an important year.He proposed the initiative to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which in my opinion is the most ambitious diplomatic and economic initiative of the Chinese government, while demonstrating a mutually beneficial cooperative attitude.

I believe that the Indonesian government must respond to the "the Belt and Road" initiative. After taking office in 2014, President Joko proposed to build Indonesia into a "global maritime hub". Indonesia's economy is developing strongly, and the government is also committed to increasing investment and promoting economic growth. Politically, Indonesia has experienced a series of relatively stable leadership changes. In 2013, the Susilo government became interested in expanding economic partnerships with other countries, including China, to accelerate infrastructure construction and narrow the development gap between different regions in Indonesia. Therefore, when China proposed the "the Belt and Road" initiative, Indonesia saw it as an opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation and infrastructure construction with China.

Global Times: In your opinion, what changes has the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" brought to Indonesia?

Mazuji: Over the past decade, Indonesia and China have increased their cooperation in various fields, and the cooperation between the two countries in jointly building the "the Belt and Road" has also made great progress.

Indonesia has received investment from China to accelerate the construction and improvement of infrastructure. These funds are used for the construction of ports, highways, airports, and energy projects. China is Indonesia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volume increasing year by year. The "the Belt and Road" initiative has strengthened trade connectivity between the two countries, promoted exchanges of products and services, and improved market access. In addition, many Chinese companies are investing in Indonesia's energy, manufacturing, and tourism industries. These investments have had a positive impact on Indonesia's economic growth and job creation. With the active development of maritime cooperation partnership between Indonesia and China, the two countries have cooperated in port development, maritime cooperation, and expanding maritime connectivity, promoting the development of Kendal Port and the Strait of Malacca.

I believe that inclusive economic cooperation, technological knowledge transfer, infrastructure connectivity, cultural and educational exchanges, and South South cooperation between Indonesia and China can serve as a model for mutually beneficial cooperation and common development among other developing countries.

Global Times: The upcoming Ya'an Wanzhou High speed Railway is the flagship project of the "the Belt and Road" jointly built by China and Indonesia. How do you see the significance of Ya'an Wanzhou High speed Railway for Indonesia's economy and society?

Mazuki: The Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway, a project directly invested by Chinese companies, is a concrete manifestation of economic cooperation between China and Indonesia. These investments promote economic growth, create employment, and promote technology transfer in Indonesia. The Yawan high-speed railway adopts Chinese technology, which provides Indonesia with the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and experience in system operation and maintenance. Technology transfer can promote the overall growth of Indonesia's transportation and technology industries. The Yawan high-speed railway is expected to promote the development of the tourism industry.

In addition to Chinese investment, Indonesian private enterprises are also involved in infrastructure projects. The cooperation between the public and private sectors in infrastructure development has brought growth opportunities to the domestic construction and transportation industries.

Global Times: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China ASEAN strategic partnership and the 10th anniversary of the proposal to build a closer China ASEAN community with a shared future. Indonesia is the rotating presidency of ASEAN in 2023. How do you evaluate China ASEAN relations?

Mazuki: Currently, the China ASEAN community with a shared future has made significant progress, and the achievements of cooperation are constantly increasing. For example, China has become the largest trading partner of ASEAN, and it is also one of the most important sources of foreign direct investment for ASEAN countries. Trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement have enhanced economic cooperation between the two sides. The "the Belt and Road" construction is benefiting the people of ASEAN, which is obvious to all. With closer cooperation and docking between China and ASEAN, the Southeast Asian region will tap into the potential to create greater benefits for both sides.

Global Times: Observers say that the United States is competing with China for influence in Southeast Asia. What is your opinion on this?

Matsuki: The relationship between China and the United States has had a significant impact on the situation in Southeast Asia, and this impact is multifaceted.

Firstly, economic competition and cooperation between China and the United States will have an immediate impact on Southeast Asian countries.

Secondly, it affects regional stability. The tense relationship between the two countries may bring "uncertainty" and increase the possibility of conflicts in the region. On the contrary, good cooperation between the two countries contributes to the stability and security of Southeast Asia.

Thirdly, China and the United States are exerting tremendous political influence in Southeast Asia. The countries in the region are at a crossroads and must adopt clever political strategies to maintain a balanced relationship with China and the United States.

Fourthly, both countries are interested in investing in infrastructure construction in Southeast Asia. China has invested heavily in infrastructure projects in the region through the "the Belt and Road" initiative, while the United States has encouraged investment through initiatives such as the "Blue Dot Network" program. The two countries are competing for influence in the region by investing in infrastructure.

Finally, there is regional diplomatic relations. The regional diplomatic policies and guidelines of China and the United States can influence the political, security, and economic agendas and policies of Southeast Asia.