China-Indonesia Friendship Stories Exchange Event held in Beijing

The "Gathering in Spring, Harmony across Shores" China-Indonesia Friendship Stories Exchange Event was held in Beijing on Jan. 29. Chen Shi, deputy editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG) and director general of China International Publishing Center (CIPC); Parulian Silalahi, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in China; and Wang Siping, cultural counselor of the Embassy of China in Indonesia, attended the event and delivered remarks.

Participants from government institutions, think tanks, enterprises and media organizations from both countries engaged in discussions on friendship and prospects for bilateral cooperation.

Chen Shi, deputy editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group and director of China International Publishing Center, delivers remarks at the event in Beijing, Jan. 29, 2026. [Photo courtesy of the organizer]

Chen Shi, deputy editor-in-chief of CICG and director of CIPC, said in her remarks that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Indonesia have worked in close coordination and achieved sustained progress in bilateral relations, with people-to-people friendship continuing to deepen. 

Chen also noted that storytelling serves as an important bridge for enhancing mutual understanding and emotional connection between the two peoples, and expressed her hope that the initiative would enable more stories of China-Indonesia friendship to be heard and shared.

Parulian Silalahi, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in China, speaks at the event in Beijing, Jan. 29, 2026. [Photo courtesy of the organizer]

Parulian Silalahi, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in China, said that trust and friendship are valuable assets in the partnership between the two countries. 

Rooted in exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Silalahi noted that bilateral relations have entered a new stage, featuring expanding cooperation across multiple fields. He said that the storytelling series provides a platform for fostering dialogue, deepening understanding and strengthening people-to-people ties.

Wang Siping, cultural counselor of the Embassy of China in Indonesia, delivers video remarks during the event in Beijing, Jan. 29, 2026. [Photo courtesy of the organizer]

Wang Siping, cultural counselor of the Embassy of China in Indonesia, delivered remarks via video, highlighting the long history of friendly exchanges between the two peoples. He said that China and Indonesia will continue to uphold the Bandung Spirit and the Silk Road Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and work together to promote shared development and mutual benefit.

The "Gathering in Spring, Harmony across Shores" China-Indonesia Friendship Stories Exchange Event is held at China International Communications Group in Beijing, Jan. 29, 2026. [Photo courtesy of the organizer]

The event also marked the launch of the China-Indonesia Friendship Stories Exchange Event Series. A promotional video was screened, officially unveiling the series.

During the storytelling session, speakers shared firsthand experiences on topics including the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, marine cooperation, digital people-to-people exchanges and cross-cultural communication, offering vivid examples of practical cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries.

A cultural experience session followed, during which participants engaged in interactive activities and experienced cultural elements from both countries.