Chinese and Indonesian militaries launched their first joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise, Peace Garuda-2024, with an opening ceremony on Sunday.
The exercise follows the arrival of Chinese military in Indonesia on Saturday, transported by Y-20 aircraft.
The opening ceremony took place simultaneously at land, sea, and air training grounds in Jakarta and Banten Province. Commanders from both nations addressed the troops via video teleconference from the joint exercise command center. Peace Garuda-2024, scheduled to run until Saturday, will involve army, navy, and air force personnel from both countries. The exercise will encompass drills focusing on search and rescue, medical aid, evacuation and resettlement, nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection, and parachute delivery. The two sides will also carry out cultural and sports activities
"This inaugural exercise between the Chinese and Indonesian militaries will deepen practical cooperation, enhance joint operational capabilities, and contribute to regional peace and stability," said Tong Wen, member of Command and Coordination Organization of the Peace Garuda-2024 joint HADR exercise.
This exercise builds upon increasingly close high-level military exchanges and fruitful cooperation between the two nations in recent years, as highlighted by Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian earlier this week.
With the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations approaching next year, China has expressed its commitment to further strengthening military ties and enhancing defense dialog with Indonesia.
China, Indonesia launch first joint disaster relief exercise
China's steady economic growth is vital to global development and the path of China's development will help shape the future of the world, foreign experts said.
The official data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics showed that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew five percent year on year to reach 134.9084 trillion yuan in 2024, meeting the annual target of around five percent.
"The speed of growth in China is remarkable, innovative spirit, connecting countryside to the city side, high-levelly opening up, new quality productive forces. You've seen China focusing in technology, and where will the world be focusing in the next five to ten years? Technology will solve many problems," said Jack Perry, chairman of 48 Group Club.
"China reached an economic growth of 5 percent, which is impressive, especially compared with the European countries, because many of them hope to see the growth like this. For China, we are a reliable partner. We not only provide the world with products, but also advanced technologies and we are also expanding our market in China. The Chinese government has been encouraging bilateral trade, which is very important to Europe. I think, the path of China's development will help shape the future. We will make changes to the global economy, involve the Global South, and promote the prosperity of the humanity," said Bernd Einmeier, chairman of the German-Chinese Society for Economy, Education and Culture.
"It's been proven that when the Chinese economy is thriving, most African economies also thriving. We can look at the aspect of various economic and infrastructure developments that have taken place in the past," said Esther Banda, a Zambian economist.
"Africa will remain important to China, and I think South Africa must keep the channels between South Africa and China open because that (China) is an economy that will continue to grow very, very strongly. And it's very important for South Africa and for the world economy," said Dawid Roodt, a South African economist.
China's steady economic growth vital to global development: foreign experts
China's steady economic growth vital to global development: foreign experts
