Visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Indonesian hosts inspect the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway on Sept 6. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is a successful example of developing countries in the region working together towards modernization, visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sept 6. 

He made the remarks while inspecting the China-Indonesia cooperation project, accompanied by Indonesia’s Coordinator for Cooperation with China and Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Indonesia’s Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

Upon his arrival at the Halim station, Li was warmly welcomed by Chinese and Indonesian workers of the rail venture. He listened to a report on the construction of the railway and expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the builders from the two nations.

Noting that as the first high-speed railway in Southeast Asia, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is a flagship project of China-Indonesia Belt and Road cooperation personally supported by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Li said that it also carries the aspirations of the Indonesian people for a better life.

The two sides should implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, make careful preparations, ensure the high-standard opening and high-quality operation of the high-speed rail, and inject strong and lasting impetus into the modernization of Indonesia and the region, Li said.

As Li traveled from Halim to Karawang station, the train traveled at its peak speed of 329 km per hour. He also inspected the construction of the platform at Karawang Station.

Incremental speed tests have been conducted since the start of joint commissioning and testing on May 22. 

Ferri Limputra, president director of Pura Mayungan Group of Companies in Jakarta, told China Daily that he is happy to note that the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway will start operations soon. “I am certain about its impact on the economic growth of our country,” he said.

He added that he hopes this will be a start for Indonesia to be connected efficiently and effectively, and to “get connected like in China”.

Professor Ahmad Munawar at Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta, central Java, cited his own experience in saying that he found Chinese engineers “have very high expertise and are hard-working”. 

“I am certain about Chinese technologies,” he said.

He added that China or any other country with high technologies should transfer them to Indonesia, including the technology for operating bullet trains.

China is ready to share its mature expertise with Indonesia, and work together to do a good job in developing industries and revitalizing cities through the high-speed rail, Li said during his inspection tour.

China and Indonesia should make continuous efforts to take the lead in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in the region, push the building of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future to a new level, and contribute to the well-being of the their people and the development and prosperity of the region, Li said.

Andyka Kusuma, a professor and researcher of transport planning from Universitas Indonesia in Depok, West Java, said fast trains with guaranteed safety will be highly favored in Indonesia, but noted about safety for people who want to cross the rails, “which they must not do”, and those approaching very close to the rails.

Xinhua contributed to this report.