Jakarta, Shenzhen Seek to Establish Sister City Cooperation

The Jakarta government is exploring a strategic collaboration with the Shenzhen Municipal Government, China.

We hope to draft a Letter of Intent (LoI) as an initial step

During a meeting between the Governor Pramono Anung, and Shenzhen Executive Vice Mayor, Tao Yongxin, held at Fuzhong 3rd Road in Shenzhen, China, both parties agreed to establish a sister city partnership, targeted for completion by November 2026.

"Jakarta currently maintains sister city partnerships with Beijing and Shanghai. We hope to draft a Letter of Intent (LoI) as an initial step, which will then be followed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shenzhen," Pramono stated in a Jakarta government's press release on Thursday (4/23).

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The collaboration is expected to bolster international relations while serving as a platform for sharing urban best practices, particularly in fostering more advanced and sustainable development.

Pramono stated that Jakarta intends to look to Shenzhen as a role model in tackling urban challenges, including traffic congestion, pollution, and flooding.

"With a population of approximately 11 million and a Greater Jakarta metropolitan area reaching 42 million people, Jakarta faces issues that Beijing once experienced, such as transportation, congestion, pollution, and floods. We seek to learn from Shenzhen as a role model," he explained.

Meanwhile, Tao Yongxin welcomed the proposed cooperation plan. He also suggested four potential areas of collaboration for joint development.

"We intend to start with a 'friendship city' arrangement as an initial step toward a sister city partnership. There are opportunities for cooperation in technology and innovation, people-to-people connections—such as student and cultural exchanges—and the maritime sector," he explained.

According to him, Indonesia’s strategic position within global maritime routes provides added value for the development of this collaboration. Further, he highlighted Jakarta’s challenges in the transportation sector, stating that Shenzhen is prepared to share its expertise through technological cooperation.

"We are open to sending Shenzhen-based companies to Jakarta, ranging from vehicle electrification and the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for public services," he continued.

Notably, Shenzhen is renowned for its rapid advancements in technology and smart city development. Since being designated as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1980, the city has transformed from a former fishing village into a global technology hub.

Several major corporations are headquartered there, including Huawei and BYD. With a population of approximately 20 million, Shenzhen stands as one of the world's leading cities in innovation and technology.