Interview: Indonesia expects more Chinese investment: Joko Widodo

Indonesia is keen to welcome more of China's involvement to assist the country's efforts in pursuing higher growth, President Joko Widodo said on Saturday.

The president told Xinhua in an exclusive interview at the Bogor Presidential Palace that the Chinese investment is particularly in need in the infrastructure construction sector.

The request for more of Chinese assistance to Indonesia would personally be delivered by Widodo in his upcoming state visit to China slated for March 26 to March 28, said Widodo.

"I had great discussions with President Xi Jinping on several sectors during my visit in China in 2014. This time I would undertake official state visit to China. We are expecting to gain concrete and ready-to-be-implemented results (in regard of China's assistance in Indonesia)," Widodo said.

Recalling the last visit to China, Widodo said he was deeply impressed by the rapid development process in China, particularly in the infrastructure construction sector.

"I boarded on a bullet train plying Beijing-Tianjin route. It apparently ran very fast. Besides that, I also witnessed large seaports, wide toll roads there. This should inspire Indonesia as we also want to proceed and develop faster," said the president.

The Indonesian President praised China's expertise in infrastructure construction, saying the participation of Chinese enterprises will surely expedite Indonesia's infrastructure development.

He said Indonesia is in dire need to see more power plants and transport infrastructures such as railway tracks, seaports and airports across the nation so as to support logistic and the manpower flow that would greatly help the nation in pursuing higher growth.

Lacking of infrastructure has been regarded as significant hurdle to investors in running their operation in Indonesia.

World Bank estimated that Indonesia's growth may stood at 5.2 percent in 2015, far lower than the growth potential of 6.0 percent due to its poor infrastructure.

Widodo has drafted plans to build 24 new seaports to enhance transport in the maritime sector and build up new railway tracks in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua during his term scheduled to end in 2019, as part of his efforts to reach the goal of the 7-percent growth during his administration.

He expected that the Chinese investors would carry out most of the projects he already designated for.

Widodo said he would promote equal welfare regime in the Bo'ao Forum which he was scheduled to attend the event during his visit to China. He said increasing trade and investments would assure the accomplishment of equal welfare among the involved countries.

The president is scheduled to leave Jakarta for Japan on Sunday, before heading towards China. Endi