On October 17, the one-year anniversary celebration of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Rail (HSR) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, featuring notable guests including Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong, and CEO of Indonesian National Railways Didiek Hadrowi.

During his speech, Minister Budi highlighted the immense recognition and appreciation from the Indonesian public regarding the successful operation of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR. He emphasized that this high-speed rail has opened a new chapter in Indonesia’s infrastructure modernization and significantly enhanced its competitiveness on the global stage, especially in Southeast Asia. He expressed hopes for continued cooperation between Indonesia and China, extending beyond the HSR project to encompass various other initiatives.

Ambassador Wang Lutong echoed these sentiments, noting that over the past year, the Jakarta-Bandung HSR has operated safely, efficiently, and sustainably, with its comprehensive benefits gradually becoming evident. He expressed a willingness to use the HSR as a benchmark to promote broader and deeper bilateral cooperation within the framework of building a community with a shared future for China and Indonesia, thus contributing to mutual prosperity and injecting new momentum into regional and global development.

During the celebration, guests joined together to cut a cake, marking the occasion of the HSR’s first year in operation. They also announced the official opening of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR train culture exchange base, located at Halim Station in Jakarta. This facility aims to foster friendship through the theme of “trains,” showcasing advanced rail transit technology and celebrating the cultural exchange between China and Indonesia, establishing a new landmark for “technology + culture” interaction.

The Jakarta-Bandung HSR connects Jakarta with the tourist city of Bandung and began operations on October 17, 2023, making it the first high-speed railway in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, with a maximum operating speed of 350 kilometers per hour. In its first year, the HSR has served 5.79 million passengers, with a peak daily ridership rate reaching 99.6%.