Wang Yi Speaks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on the Phone

On March 14, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Wang Yi said, China and Indonesia are both major developing countries and emerging economies. The two sides should deepen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation under the guidance of the two heads of state and play a positive role in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability. Retno said, Indonesia attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to work with China to push bilateral relations to a new level.

The two sides mainly exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. Retno said that Indonesia insists on respecting other countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity, calls for an early end to the military conflict and encourages relevant parties to hold dialogue to de-escalate the situation and prevent a humanitarian crisis. Indonesia is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China in this regard. As the presidency of the G20, Indonesia believes that the G20 was established to promote international cooperation and should pay more attention to macroeconomic and development issues.

Wang Yi elaborated on China's consistent position on the Ukraine issue, saying that China will continue to play a constructive role in easing the situation, promoting peace talks and preventing humanitarian crises in its own way in accordance with the "four musts" proposed by President Xi Jinping. Unilateral sanctions will only complicate the situation and intensify contradictions. Communication and consultation are the political wisdom and diplomatic tradition of Oriental countries, which has been proved effective. China is ready to work with Indonesia to make continued efforts to promote peace talks.

Wang Yi stressed that behind the Ukraine crisis lies the security tensions accumulated and intensified in Europe for a long time. To achieve lasting peace and stability in Europe, the EU, NATO and Russia need to engage in equal-footed dialogue and establish a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework. Under the current circumstances, we should cherish peace and stability in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific all the more. The ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture that has taken shape in the region over the years is of great importance. China firmly supports ASEAN centrality and the strengthening and expansion of the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture. We welcome countries outside the region to play a positive role in promoting regional peace and stability, but we should not allow any country to bring in instability and tension in the region, nor should we allow confrontation between blocs to be introduced into the region, still less should we allow small and medium-sized countries to be used as tools for confrontation between major powers. The G20 is the major forum for international economic cooperation. China supports Indonesia in playing the leading role as the presidency, removing disruptions and steadily advancing the established agenda of the G20 for dialogue and cooperation.