Prabowo meets Xi on first overseas visit since he was sworn in

Trip to Beijing signals Indonesian leader's keen interest in boosting ties with China

- Michelle Ng China Correspondent and Linda Yulisman

BEIJING/JAKARTA - China is an important friend and partner, said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Nov 9, on his first overseas stop since he was sworn in on Oct 20.

That Beijing was Mr Prabowo's first stop was no surprise, observers noted, as he has signaled a keen interest in strengthening relations with China, Indonesia's largest trading partner and one of its most important foreign investors.

Indonesia's approach to foreign policy has long been to maintain its autonomy and avoid involvement in power rivalries, and the trip underscores its strategic balancing act between the United States and China, they said.

From China, Mr Prabowo will fly to the US at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, with a possible meeting with President-elect Donald Trump on the cards. From there, he will continue to Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Brazil for the Group of 20 summit, and then the UK.

Mr Prabowo, who won the presidency in February, has been working to make the world's fourth-most populous nation more active on the international stage. While he was president-elect, he visited 21 countries.

The three-day China state visit, which ends on Nov 10, is Mr Prabowo's second trip to Beijing in 2024, following a visit in April.