Indonesia's Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara (R) speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2025. (Xinhua)
JAKARTA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's experience in poverty alleviation offers valuable lessons for Indonesia, and Jakarta hopes to deepen cooperation with Beijing to achieve common development for the benefits of the two peoples, Indonesia's Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara has said.
In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Iftitah said his October visit to China allowed him to observe firsthand how China had made great achievement in areas such as poverty alleviation and production of large passenger aircrafts.
The visit, he added, strengthened his belief that poverty is not an unavoidable reality for Indonesia.
"Some people think it is normal for Indonesia to have high poverty because we have 285 million people. But China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has eliminated absolute poverty. What excuse do we have not to do the same?" he said.
Speaking in the garden of his official residence, Iftitah summarized China's "success formula" as strong leadership, emphasis on education, adaptation to local conditions and an enduring spirit of struggle.
He was particularly impressed by Xujiachong and Guanzhuang villages in Yichang, Hubei Province. With support from local governments, training programs, technology transfer and close cooperation between relocated families and original residents, both Xujiachong and Guanzhuang have built strong local economies, he noted.
Iftitah also underscored the importance of infrastructure, drawing parallels between China's development approach and Indonesia's own experiences.
"In North Halmahera, transporting coconuts used to take eight hours. Now, with better roads, it only takes one or two hours. Infrastructure is no longer seen as a cost, but an investment that increases productivity," he said.
Iftitah noted that Indonesia is endowed with vast land, abundant natural resources and a large labor force, while China brings capital, technology, market advantages and a dynamic community of entrepreneurs -- conditions that together create broad prospects for cooperation.
His visit to a hybrid rice research base in Wuhan also prompted him to invite Chinese experts to Indonesia for on-site assessments, hoping that China's advanced hybrid rice technologies could help farmers in underdeveloped regions boost grain output and accelerate poverty reduction.
"We have enormous potential for cooperation, and I believe this will be a mutually beneficial partnership," he said. "Chinese companies are taking root in Indonesia and creating jobs for local communities. I am confident that, as our cooperation deepens, more and more Indonesians will appreciate China."
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