From 25 to 28 November 2025, a delegation from the Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies of the school of Global and Area Studies at Renmin University of China paid an invited visit to Jakarta and Bandung in Indonesia, conducted field research, and successfully co-hosted a series of academic exchange activities.

Group Photo of the Delegation

On 26 November, the Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies of the school of Global and Area Studies, the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at the University of Indonesia (UI), the School of Public Affairs at Zhejiang University (ZJU) and the Institute of Area and Country Studies at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (JUFE) jointly hosted the International Academic Conference Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations in Jakarta. Focusing on themes including the evolution of bilateral relations, regional governance cooperation, cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and policy coordination, the conference attracted experts and scholars from universities and research institutions in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Shen Wei, Qiushi Chair Professor at the School of Public Affairs of ZJU and Director of the Center for European and Asian Studies. Prof. Retno Kusumastuti Haryono, Dean of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at UI; Assoc. Prof. Tu Nian'gen, Vice Dean of the Institute of Area and Country Studies at JUFE; and Assoc. Prof. Ji Xianbai, Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies of the school of Global and Area Studies, delivered speeches successively. The three distinguished guests highly affirmed the academic value and contemporary significance of the conference, extended warm congratulations on this important milestone marking the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations, and unanimously expressed their expectation to expand broader and deeper cooperation in area studies, public administration, international relations and other fields in the future.

In the academic dialogue session, Indonesian scholars including Prof. Tegu Kurniawan, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at UI; Dr. Eko Sakapurnama, Head of the Postgraduate Program; and Dr. Nurul Safitri shared their cutting-edge research findings. From the school of Global and Area Studies, Assoc. Prof. Xu Zhengyuan, Secretary-General of the China-EU Joint Research Institute under the Ministry of Education; Dr. Li Xiafei, Research Fellow at the Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies and Assoc. Prof. at the School of International Relations; and Dr. Wang Zhaodong, Research Fellow at the Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies  and Assoc. Prof. at the School of International Relations, conducted in-depth analyses on topics such as China’s relations with neighboring countries, China-Indonesia cultural exchanges and social cooperation, and the regional and global implications of the China-Indonesia partnership. They delivered keynote speeches entitled Dynamics and Logic of China’s Neighborly Relations, Cultural Flow and Cultural Translation in China-Indonesia Relations: Social Cooperation in an Interconnected Region, and From Anti-Imperialist Solidarity to a Development Partnership: Regional and Global Implications of China-Indonesia Cooperation respectively.

Group Photo of the Participants

On 27 November, the Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies of the school of Global and Area Studies, in collaboration with Deakin University-Lancaster University (Indonesia), ZJU and other institutions, co-hosted the Symposium Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Bandung Conference. Wang Zhaodong delivered a keynote speech entitled From the Non-Aligned Movement to Global South Cooperation: The Continuity of the Bandung Spirit and Its Contemporary Enlightenments, proposing three core directions for carrying forward the Bandung Spirit in the new era: first, taking economic cooperation as the core agenda of South-South cooperation; second, countries of the Global South should strengthen solidarity and collaboration, jointly promote the reform of the global governance system, and build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable international order; third, countries of the Global South should continue to adhere to the non-aligned principle established by the Bandung Conference and avoid taking sides in great power geopolitical competition. After the symposium, all participants visited the former site and museum of the Bandung Conference together, revisiting historical memories and deepening their understanding and recognition of the Bandung Spirit.

Group Photo of the Participants

Participants Visiting the Former Site of the Bandung Conference

The successful holding of this visit and the series of academic activities has not only further consolidated the foundation of cooperation between the school of Global and Area Studies and renowned Indonesian universities, but also built a high-level platform for in-depth exchanges in South and Southeast Asian studies. All participating parties stated that they will take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations as an important opportunity to continuously expand the dimensions of academic cooperation, elevate the level of exchanges, and work together to promote the high-quality development of international academic exchanges to a new and higher level in the new era.

Text: Ji Xianbai, Wang Zhaodong

Typesetting: Yao Jiayu

Review: Song Tingting

School of Global and Area Studies, Renmin University of China