In front of President Xi, Jokowi confidently says that high-speed railway will be completed in June 2023
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily - Di hadapan Presiden Xi, Jokowi optimistis KA cepat rampung pada Juni 2023
17 November 2022
By: Amrozi Amenan
In front of China President Xi Jinping, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that he was optimistic about Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (KCJB) operating in June 2023.
“I am optimistic about it operating in June 2023,” President Jokowi said at the bilateral meeting with China President Xi Jinping after observing the dynamic test of the KCJB virtually during the G20 Summit in Bali on Wednesday (16/11/2022).
During the dynamic test through a teleconference screen, President Jokowi and China President Xi sat side by side to observe the inspection train operated by the train drivers from Tegalluar Station in Bandung.
Before the dynamic test, two train drivers from Indonesia and China reported that they were ready to conduct a trial for KCJB and asked for the approval of both heads of states. From Tegalluar Station in Bandung, KCJB’s driver Supriadi said that the high-speed railway was ready to conduct the dynamic test.
“Reporting, President Joko Widodo, the CIT (comprehensive inspection train) for Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is ready and on-track inspection is ready to commence. Your instruction, please,” Supriadi stated.
While smiling, President Jokowi and President Xi Jinping gave a short comment. Jokowi stated, “Commence.” Meanwhile, Xi Jinping answered “Xie xie (Thank you).”
After that, both train drivers entered the CIT that is painted orange-silver.
The dynamic test broadcast showed that the train moved from the front side, left side, right side, and inside the train. The dynamic test was held successfully and both heads of states looked satisfied when they observed the train and gave an applause.
Next, both state leaders watched a video on Indonesia-China cooperation.
During the occasion, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) President Director Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi explained that the CIT must ensure the safety and maintenance of KCJB. He also said that the high-speed train was fitted with sophisticated technologies, so it could detect more than 60 technical parameters in real time. Starting from line equipment status, overhead power, signalling communication, and train dynamic response, including potential issue detection from operation and the condition in the vicinity.
“The comprehensive inspection train will operate every day before the route is used for the passenger train. The trained technical team will immediately carry out necessary reparations,” Dwiyana said.
After Dwiyana stated his report, all KCIC staff stood to wave the flags of Indonesia and China. Spontaneously, Jokowi and Xi Jinping gave an applause for the dynamic test of the high-speed train.
Meanwhile, during the dynamic test of KCJB, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan invited China President Xi Jinping to attend the inauguration of KCJB’s operation in the middle of 2023.
“We hope President Xi Jinping can attend the inauguration of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway operation in the middle of next year with President Joko Widodo,” Luhut said.
Luhut affirmed that the KCJB project must be completed in line with the target in the middle of 2023. He does not want the KCJB project to face another delay.
“It [KCJB] must be completed and cannot be delayed. It is my personal determination to complete the project,” he affirmed.
Luhut also revealed that the KCJB project’s progress currently reaches 80.40%, and it will continue until it is completed in the middle of 2023. Besides that, the high-speed train project is one of the main projects of Global Maritime Fulcrum-Belt and Road Initiative (GMR-BRI) that is the landmark of cooperation between Indonesia and China.
“Hence, the Indonesian government is committed to providing full support for the completion of the project in the form of policies and finances in accordance with the regulation in Indonesia,” he said.
Furthermore, Luhut explained that the high-speed railway project was a stepping stone for cooperation projects between Indonesia and China, such as Morowali Industrial Estate, the green industrial estate in North Kalimantan, and others.
“As well as several other cooperation projects that will significantly impact construction in Indonesia,” Luhut explained.
