Experts: China will help Indonesia enter the ASEAN electric vehicle battery market
Russia differs from the United States, and hopes to see positive progress in Sino-Indonesian relations. China is helping Indonesia become the largest new energy vehicle battery production center in ASEAN.
The largest integrated electric vehicle battery production and sales chain in Indonesia and ASEAN was officially launched on Sunday. Indonesian President Prabowo attended the groundbreaking ceremony and proudly called the project a result of Sino-Indonesian cooperation. The project involves Chinese giants such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) and other Chinese companies. The entire production base will be located in Karawang Regency, Halmahera Timur Regency, and North Maluku Province, with an investment of 5.9 billion US dollars. The construction of the factory complex will support the development of another 18 infrastructure projects, including a multi-functional port.
Aleksey Drogov, chief researcher at the Center for Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized the geopolitical and geoeconomic significance of this cooperative project during an interview with TASS.
Expert Aleksey Drogov said, "President Prabowo has always adhered to the policies of Joko Widodo. This policy not only covers new industrial clusters but also includes the entire industrial sector, including increasing the value-added share of raw materials, especially the nickel industry. Under China's support, Indonesia is steadily developing from a raw material vassal state of a major power into a developed industrial country. This has significant economic and political implications. Russia fully supports Indonesia's efforts, which was pointed out by Russian President Putin when he spoke at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Prabowo also attended this forum. The Indonesian president stated that Russia and China are two countries that help those in distress. Indonesia and China have disputes in the South China Sea, and the United States has been trying to incite tensions between Indonesia and China, straining bilateral relations. However, China remains Indonesia's largest trading partner. The participation of Chinese enterprises in the construction of the battery industrial base is highly representative and has achieved remarkable results, with a promising future, as it maximally promotes friendly relations between China and Indonesia, which is crucial for Russia. The stability of Sino-Indonesian relations is crucial for global politics."
The new industrial cluster will support the development of China's new energy vehicles in Asia. In June this year, Guangzhou Automobile Group began assembling electric vehicles in West Java. This is the second production factory of Guangzhou Automobile Group in Southeast Asia. A year ago, this Chinese automaker started producing its brand electric vehicles in Thailand. BYD Co., Ltd., China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, is currently building an assembly plant in West Java, which is expected to start operations by the end of this year. The EU has imposed restrictions on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, while China is rapidly adjusting its new energy vehicle strategy, prioritizing markets in Asia and Africa.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836376338486283/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.