China and Indonesia will meet to discuss enhancing their bilateral ties

 Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia, will begin his three-day trip to Northeast Asia today in China.

On July 28, Widodo will go for China and then visit Seoul and Tokyo. President Xi Jinping will be present during the visit, who has not frequently welcomed foreign leaders since the coronavirus outbreak in 2019.

This journey follows the recent Southeast Asia tour by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. By concentrating on bilateral ties, China continues to strengthen its security and economic links in the area, and Indonesia, as the largest economy in Southeast Asia and the G20 chair this year, is an important part of that plan.

As Indonesia continues to feel the strain of rising staple commodity prices and domestic inflation, discussions will probably focus on infrastructure development and trade. While China's influence in Southeast Asia grows, there are long-term financial issues with the Chinese-supported train line that runs from Jakarta to Bandung. As Indonesia expands its renewable energy projects and creates its new capital city, Nusantara, China will probably take advantage of the chance to further establish bilateral trade and infrastructure deals, expanding its influence in the nation and region.