On November 23,2024 China-Indonesia People-to-People Exchanges Development International Conference was successfully held in Fuqing.The conference was guided by the Center for International People-to-People Exchange under the Ministry of Education, the Foreign Affairs Office of Fujian Provincial People’s Government, and the Fujian Provincial Returned Overseas Chinese Federation. It was co-hosted by our university and the Management Committee of Fuzhou New District Yuanhong Functional Zone, and organized by the China-Indonesia People-to-People Exchange Research Center of Central China Normal University, the Indonesia Research Center of Fujian Normal University, FPNU's Indonesia Research Institute, Yarsi University of Indonesia, and IPMI International Business School. The event attracted over 300 participants from government departments, universities, think tanks, media, industry enterprises, and social organizations from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and other countries.
Themed "Diverse Exchanges, Joint Development: Building a China-Indonesia Community with a Shared Future," this conference is the largest and most broadly participated international conference on China-Indonesia people-to-people exchange since the joint statement on comprehensively advancing the strategic partnership and building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future was published. It is also the first people-to-people exchange activity in the process of China-Indonesia relations that involves universities, industrial parks, and industry enterprises from both countries, featuring a distinct integration of industry and education.
Attendees included Consul General Bin Dejia of the Indonesian Consulate in Guangzhou, Deputy Minister Wosito of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs of Indonesia, Indonesian Parliament Member Rokhmin, President Aman of the International Union of Food Science and Technology and IPMI International Business School, President Fasli of Yarsi University, Cultural Counsellor Li Jian of the Indonesian Embassy in China, Chairman Zhang Jinxiong of the Indonesian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Executive Chairman Huang Yinhua of the Indonesian Chinese Association, Director Yu Changxue of the Center for China-International People-to-People Exchange under the Ministry of Education, Researcher Xu Liping from the Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Zhai Kun from the Institute of Area Studies at Peking University, Vice Director Chen Liying of the Fujian Provincial Department of Education, Chairman Chen Shihai of the Fujian Provincial Returned Overseas Chinese Federation, Deputy Director Ke Yida of the Fujian Provincial Government Information Office, our university's Party Secretary Lai Hairong, President Wu Keshou, and Director Wang Xingang of the Yuanhong Functional Area Management Committee of Fuzhou New District. The opening ceremony was presided over by Jiang Xingshan, Party Committee Member and Vice President of our university and the main forum was chaired by Sun Jianguo, Director of the Indonesia Research Center at Fujian Normal University.
Wu Keshou, President of FPNU, delivered a welcoming speech. He pointed out that the 2024 China-Indonesia People-to-People Exchange Development International Conference is being held for the first time in Fujian Province. This high-level and influential conference is co-hosted by FPNU and the Management Committee of the Yuanhong Functional Zone in Fuzhou New Area, reflecting the recognition and confidence bestowed by the Ministry of Education and the significant achievements FPNU has made in fostering friendly communication with Indonesia. In recent years, FPNU has made great strides and achieved notable results in the fields of China-Indonesia cooperation and research, under the guidance of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the People's Government of Fujian Province, as well as the support of the Provincial Committee of the CPC and the People's Government of Fuqing City. FPNU will leverage its advantages in location, industry, policy, and positioning to strive to be a pioneer in China-Indonesia cooperation, strengthening our new pattern of bilateral cooperation featuring “four-wheel drive” covering political, economic, cultural and maritime fields. We will also advance the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project and contribute to building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.
Director Yu Changxue emphasized that the vast ocean between China and Indonesia has forged a natural bond of friendship linking peoeple in our two countries. Since the establishment of our comprehensive strategic partnership ten years ago, we have achieved fruitful results in various fields. Against the backdrop of building a strong educational system, this conference features one plenary session and five sub-forums. It revolves around the theme “Multiple Modes of Communication, Common Pursuit of Development: Building a China-Indonesia Community with a Shared Future,” and aims to engage in meaningful discussions. Yu Changxue hopes that participants will take advantage of this opportunity to speak freely, exchange ideas, learn from each other, and share valuable experiences. Together, they can contribute their wisdom and strength to the construction of a high-quality China-Indonesia community with a shared future.
Deputy Director Chen Liying expressed her congratulations on behalf of the Fujian Provincial Education Department regarding the holding of this international conference. She noted that in recent years, FPNU has seized development opportunities, targeted regional demands, and innovated a talent development model that integrates language and technology, effectively aligning with the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" initiative. As a result, the university's educational standards and social influence have significantly improved. She hopes that this conference will further establish a platform for the exchange of talents, technology, and resources, promoting close interactions between university think tanks in areas such as language teaching, digital education, and vocational training. Additionally, she encourages student exchanges between the two countries, aiming to deepen cultural cooperation between China and Indonesia, foster more mutual learning outcomes, and enhance the internationalization of education and the operational capabilities of Fujian Province.
As a representative of the Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Chairman Chen Shihai expressed his profound appreciation for the significant contributions made to the successful opening of the conference. He emphasized that this international conference not only elevates the standard of overseas Chinese affairs at Fujian Polytechnic Normal University and amplifies its educational influence but also further unites overseas Chinese compatriots in Indonesia. It harnesses the collective wisdom and strength of overseas Chinese to support the development of the "Belt and Road Initiative" and the "Two Countries, TwinParks," holding immense significance for promoting the high-quality development of Fujian Province. Chairman Chen hopes that our university will leverage its advantages in talent platforms and geographical location, construct bridges of communication, and contribute to the high-quality development of the Overseas Chinese Federation's work in the new era. Furthermore, he anticipates a comprehensive enhancement of the university's capabilities and levels in serving the implementation of major national and regional strategies.
Consul General Bindejia extended his gratitude for the platform offered by this conference, which serves as a significant channel for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia. He expressed the hope that China and Indonesia would continue to deepen cooperation in fields such as education. He further stated that he was honored to witness the inauguration of the Indonesian Research Institution at Fujian Polytechnic Normal University. He also expected that the institution could evolve into a crucial platform for promoting communication and cooperation in economic trade, cultural, and educational fields between the two countries.
Deputy Minister Woxito stated that cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia exert a significant influence on enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation between governments, universities, and other sectors. He expressed that both sides could deepen educational collaboration, including vocational education so as to bring long-term benefits to society and the economy. Chairman Zhang Jinxiong noted that this conference has provided a valuable platform for experts and scholars from both countries. Both sides will discover more opportunities for cooperation by this conference, jointly contributing to advancing bilateral relations to new heights. He looks forward to establishing closer collaborative relationships between Fujian Polytechnic Normal University and Indonesian higher education institutions, aiming to cultivate more talents with international perspectives and cross-cultural communication skills, thereby contributing to the friendly exchanges and mutual development of both nations.
Director Wang Xingang, on behalf of the Fuqing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, who extended a warm welcome to the guests . He expressed that this conference was a grand event for people-to-people exchanges between China and Indonesia, providing a rare platform for exchanges between governments, businesses, and academia from both sides. He looked forward to using people-to-people exchanges as a bridge to further consolidate the foundation for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. He also hoped to deepen mutual understanding and trust, expand cooperation, and move forward together on the path of jointly building the "Belt and Road," making the road wider and wider.
Subsequently, five experts, Xu Liping, Locke Ming, Zhai Kun, Fasli, and Aman, delivered keynote speeches focusing on the motivation and prospects of people-to-people exchanges between China and Indonesia, promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, advancing the development of China's regional and national studies, and strengthening cultural ties, and cooperation in higher education.
Experts from both countries engaged in sharing the topics of mutual interest, including the construction of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, mutual learning between the two civilizations,,new trends in economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchanges in food and the industrialization of traditional cuisine, as well as media collaboration. The atmosphere of the exchange was warm, vibrant, and practical.
In his closing remarks, Vice-President Jiang Xingshan said that the experts present at the conference had in-depth discussions. They shared their unique and profound insights on advancing the China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership and building a community with a shared future from multiple perspectives and at different levels, and solid results were achieved. Our university, the sole undergraduate-level institution in Fuqing, a well-known hometown of overseas Chinese across the nation, will further give full play to its role. In collaboration with the Yuanhong Functional Area of Fuzhou New District, we strive to build a solid bridge for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia. Moreover, we will continuously deepen cooperation with universities, think tanks, industrial enterprises, and social organizations in Indonesia and around the world, so as to better contribute to the development of the "Belt and Road Initiative".
The unveiling ceremony of the Indonesian Institute at Fujian Polytechnic Normal University took place during the conference. Consul General Ben Perkasa Drajat, Director Yu Changxue, Deputy Head Chen Liying, Chairman Chen Shihai, Director Wang Xingang, and President Wu Keshou jointly unveiled the Indonesian Institute.
During the forum, the Blue Book, titled “Annual Report on China-Indonesia People-to-People Exchange Development”(2024), was released. Professor Wei Hong, director of the Research Center for Sino-Indonesia People-to-People Exchanges at Central China Normal University, systematically summarized the cooperation between China and Indonesia in 2023 across multiple fields, including healthcare, youth affairs, culture, education, science and technology, media, think tanks, and tourism. And she also analyzed the challenges therein and proposed corresponding policy recommendations.
It is reported that since the first China-Indonesia People-to-People Exchange Development Forum was held in 2019, it has been held for six consecutive years. Its international influence and public visibility have been steadily increasing, and it has gradually evolved into a brand platform for interpersonal exchanges between China and Indonesia, playing a positive role in enriching the connotation of the high-level interpersonal exchange mechanism between the two countries. This conference is the first time that this prestigious international academic exchange event has been held in Fujian. It is also a practical step taken by our university and the Yuanhong Functional Zone Management Committee of Fuzhou New Area to implement the important speech spirit of the General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection tour in Fujian. Through actively leveraging the regional advantages of the Chinese park in the China-Indonesia "Two Countries, Twin Parks" cooperation, the kinship advantages of Fuqing as a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese, and the industrial advantages of being an advanced manufacturing base, we aim to enhance mutual understanding and amity between the people of China and Indonesia, deeply integrate into the high-quality construction of "Belt and Road Initiative", and contribute to the construction of the core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
Reviewed by Xu Qinliang
