Jokowi Asks China, Japan for Promised Bullet Train Project

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – On the sidelines of the 60th Asia-Africa Conference, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo discussed the implementation of bullet train agreements with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

“We’re pursuing [the implementation of the agreements] this year or next year, either with China or Japan,” Jokowi said when visiting the ACC media center on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC). 

Coordinating Economic Minister Sofyan Djalil said the government would mull the feasibility studies conducted by China and Japan before deciding which would be appointed for the project.

“We will assess which [investor] will provide more benefits, in terms of cost and technology,” Sofyan said.

According to Sofyan, the signing of an MoU on the Jakarta-Bandung bullet train today will be initiated by an Indonesian state-owned enterprise and the Chinese before establishing a joint venture for the project.

State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno said the framework would serve as the cornerstone of China’s feasibility study that assessed the financial structure of the project. As an option to finance the project, China will prepare the funds through China Development Bank.

“They [Chinese investors] are looking forward to investing [in the project]”, Rini said.

ALI HIDAYAT