China and Indonesia held their first-ever joint dialogue at the foreign and defense ministerial levels, reflecting the development of bilateral relations and the two countries' move toward a deeper strategic partnership.The Chinese side was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun, while the Indonesian side was represented by Foreign Minister Sugiyono and Defense Minister Shafri Syamsuddin.This is the first dialogue of its kind held by China with a foreign country, and it launched a new quadrilateral dialogue mechanism aimed at coordinating foreign and defense policies between the two countries.The two sides affirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation to serve regional peace and stability, especially in the South China Sea. They also emphasized support for the multilateral trading system and expanding security cooperation.In the same context, the coast guard forces of the two countries announced the signing of a maritime security cooperation agreement, with the aim of enhancing coordination and addressing common maritime challenges.China and Indonesia also agreed to conduct joint military exercises in 2025, reflecting both sides' desire to strengthen defense cooperation despite the persistence of some traditional disputes in the South China Sea.At the conclusion of the dialogue, both sides affirmed their commitment to serving as a model for regional maritime cooperation by jointly maintaining peace and stability and developing mechanisms for strategic dialogue and understanding.
