Background
With the potential to be the largest economies in the world and the largest economies in the Southeast Asia region (PWC, 2017), China and Indonesia are in a strategic position to drive the direction of global economic development. Both countries’ emerging leadership roles also place them in a strong position to champion South-South cooperation and set an example of climate leadership through the pursuit of green growth. Therefore, China and Indonesia have strong political modalities to elevate the existing bilateral cooperation into a special relationship (Oxforde, 2017). For 75 years, Indonesia and China have established diplomatic relations and the cooperation across all sectors has been fruitful. On energy cooperation, a regular dialogue between both ministries has been initiated since 2002. In 2025, the establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue Mechanism serves as a coordinating body to ensure the effective implementation of various mechanisms, including energy, trade, and investment. This arrangement signifies a major advancement in bilateral relations, moving beyond the traditional “business as usual” (BAU) model toward a more integrated, coordinated approach at the ministerial level (China MOFA, 2025). Under this mechanism, one of the key areas of focus is green development, with China explicitly committing to support Indonesia’s green growth agenda, particularly through initiatives in energy transition and renewable energy cooperation.
The strength of the collaboration between the two countries was demonstrated in 2023, when Indonesian State Electricity Company (PT PLN) signed a cooperation agreement with two major Chinese energy companies to develop renewable energy manufacturing, including the construction of Indonesia’s Largest Solar Cell and Panel Factory in the Kendal Industrial Area, Central Java. The cooperation was signed at the Indonesia-China Business Forum (ICBF) in Beijing, and witnessed by President Joko Widodo (The Jakarta Post, 2023). This cooperation was complemented by an additional commitment in 2024, where China pledged another USD 10 billion investment for projects spanning infrastructure, green energy, digital technology, and agriculture (The Jakarta Post, 2024). These agreements reflect the deepening trust and strategic alignment between the two countries, especially in sectors critical to sustainable economic transformation. Looking ahead, the potential for expanding cooperation remains substantial, particularly in the renewable energy sector, where many opportunities remain untapped. Both nations have repeatedly expressed a common commitment to advancing global development, security, and civilization through collective and mutually supported efforts (Government of China, 2024). This shared vision provides a strong foundation for enhancing future collaboration, positioning China and Indonesia not only as key regional players but also as champions of global green growth and sustainable development.
Given the deepening bilateral relations between Indonesia and China, the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) will host the Indonesia-China Energy Transition Investment Workshop titled “Advancing China-Indonesia Cooperation on Clean Energy and Green Development”. This event seeks to convene key stakeholders from both nations to explore collaborative opportunities, address challenges, and strengthen partnerships in low-carbon development and the pursuit of net-zero emissions.
Proposal Timeline:
Bidders must send a copy of the proposal and all documents via email to the Program Manager CEDP IESR at arief@iesr.or.id and cc to angga@iesr.or.id no later than 20:00 Western Indonesian Time (WIB, GMT+07) on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Please include “RFP Response – Indonesia-China Energy Transition Investment Workshop – Your Institution Name” in the subject line.
RFP-EO-Event-Indonesia-China-Energy-Transition-Investment-Workshop
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