Indonesia is determined to open its doors to Chinese investments and significantly strengthen bilateral economic ties, even as it seeks clarity on China’s vision of a Maritime Silk Road, President Joko Widodo said.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post ahead of his state visit to Beijing today , he said it was time for his country to get serious about deepening bilateral trade, investment and infrastructure links.

The Indonesian leader identified toll roads, railways, power plants and ports in his country as possible projects for Chinese and Indonesian state-owned and private companies to embark on.

…On the Indonesian leader’s visit, Indonesia watcher Yang Razali Kassim told the Post he could not detect any historical baggage between the two sides as Widodo welcomed China as a new source of investment and growth.

“But I sense a certain return of the old ambivalence in Indonesia towards China due to Beijing’s assertive and controversial claims over the South China Sea,” said Razali, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.