China, Indonesia should serve as engine for modernization of developing countries: Chinese FM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday called on China and Indonesia to serve as an engine for modernization for developing countries.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a joint press conference after he met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, capital city of Indonesia.

"China and Indonesia should serve as a model of mutual trust and assistance between major countries and neighbors. We should continue to follow the strategic guidance of our leaders and consolidate high-level strategic mutual trust. We've established the 2+2 Dialogue Mechanism for Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers, which we will leverage to enhance political and security cooperation and firmly understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns," Wang said.

"The two sides should serve as an engine for modernization of developing countries. We will deepen the synergy between the Chinese modernization drive and the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision to help each other achieve success, so as to provide more choices for developing countries to realize modernization. We will continue to lead in Belt and Road international cooperation, expand cooperation on new quality productive forces with digital economy included, and work together to promote sustainable development and economic transformation. The two sides should serve as partners of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation. We will give priority to development, champion universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, oppose decoupling and fragmenting industrial and supply chains, oppose building 'small yards with high fences', and jointly maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains," the Chinese foreign minister said.

Wang is on an official visit to Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea from April 18 to 23 upon invitation.

China, Indonesia should serve as engine for modernization of developing countries: Chinese FM

Russia said on Tuesday that it repelled various attacks from Ukraine, while Ukraine claimed strikes on Russian targets in several regions in the past 24 hours.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense's war report on Tuesday, the western group of the Russian forces repelled five attacks by the Ukrainian Army. The southern group of the Russian military secured advantageous positions and caused losses to Ukrainian personnel and equipment during the battle. The central group repelled nine counterattacks by the Ukrainian Army. The Russian army also targeted and struck a Ukrainian drone assembly workshop.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces released a war report stating that there were 96 battles in the front line area. The Ukrainian army repelled attacks by the Russian army in seven directions, including Kupyansk, Bakhmut and Avdiivka. The Ukrainian air force, rocket artillery and artillery units struck various Russian targets, including personnel and military equipment.

According to Ukrainian media, Ukraine launched large scale attacks against Crimea with the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) provided by the United States on early Tuesday. Russia initiated its air defense system and temporarily closed the Crimean Bridge. 　　 TASS said on the same day that after the Ukrainian missiles were shot down, Russian army discovered unexploded bombs.

Russia, Ukraine claim mutual strikes