Prabowo’s visits may indicate that influential countries recognise him as the next Indonesian president and lend him more legitimacy.

China’s growing influence in Indonesia’s nickel industry is a cause for concern amid accidents at smelters and lack of access to Western markets.

The two countries have welcomed Chinese investment to boost industrial capacity and develop outlying regions, but questions linger over technology transfers, environmental concerns and the presence of Chinese workers.

The 10 Asean countries have 9 per cent of the world’s population but only registered 2 per cent of total cases. But their economies have taken a big hit and recovery will depend both on the global economy and their ability to control contagion without resorting to stringent lockdowns.

The Indonesian president’s decisions haven’t impressed anyone but he is obviously seeking stability to push forward with his development goals.

Luhut Pandjaitan, a trusted aide of the Indonesian president and his point man on China affairs, says Jakarta’s biggest task is luring foreign investors who can give the country a leg-up in technological development.

While Vietnam has benefited from the trade war between the economic superpowers, Indonesia has been hurt. In Osaka, Widodo has an opportunity to push his economic agenda

Palestinian independence is a foreign policy priority for Indonesia, with its Muslim majority population and rising political Islam