Durian. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir visited China on Aug. 19-20, the first Indonesian ministerial visit overseas since the beginning of pandemic covid-19, aiming to improve bilateral cooperation between the two countries including on the development of vaccine for covid-19 virus.
Besides meeting State Councilor Wang Yi in Sanya in Hainan, the ministers and entourage also met executives from Sinovac, Sinopharm and CanSino as well as from China Railways.
“Two of us were sent by President [Joko Widodo] to follow up several bilateral cooperation, part of them on vaccine and other economic deals with two countries, China and United Arab Emirates,” Minister Marsudi said on Aug.20 evening.
Regarding cooperation on vaccine especially for covid-19 virus, Indonesia is currently conducting third phase of clinical examination for candidate vaccine from China’s pharmaceutical company Sinovac.
Sinompharm and CanSino also made different candidate vaccines.
Issues
In the bilateral meeting with Councilor Wang on Aug. 20, Indonesia brought six main issues – on strengthening bilateral relation with mutual benefit principle, commitment to maintain stability and security in the region, covid-19 vaccine cooperation, strengthening economic cooperation during and post pandemic covid-19, unfair treatment for Indonesian crew at China’s fishing vessels and travel corridor.
“Indonesia sees strong commitment from several Chinese pharmaceutical companies to cooperate with Indonesia on vaccine as well as the government of China to support it,” Marsudi said.
While, related with economic cooperation, Indonesia has been trying to lower its trade deficit against China.
Export Indonesia to China in the first half of 2020 rose 11.74 percent to $13.77 billion compared to the same period in 2019.
Vaccine Arrangement
Minister Marsudi and Minister Thohir on Aug.20 witnessed the signing of two agreements; Preliminary Agreement of Purchase and Supply of Bulk Product of Covid 19 Vaccine and a memorandum of understanding on commitment for bulk vaccine in 2021; between Indonesia’s BioFarma and China’s Sinovac.
The two pharmaceutical companies have commitment for bulk vaccine supply up to 40 million doses from Nov.2020 to March 2021 as well as from March 2021 to the end of the year.
