Indonesia calls for unity as it marks Chinese New Year

At a Chinese New Year celebration in Jakarta, Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and other leaders urged citizens to maintain harmony and work to alleviate poverty in the world's fourth most populous country.

About 2,000 people attended the event at the Chinese Cultural Center, Taman Mini Cultural Park, in East Jakarta, on Sunday.

Gibran called on the audience to remain united in order to achieve the nation's target of becoming a high-income country by 2045, under the Golden Indonesia 2045 project.

"Indonesia is rich (in) diversity," Gibran said, adding that the country must abide by its national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), which is its source of national strength.

The event began with the singing of the national anthem, and was enlivened by traditional Chinese and local dances as well as other art performances.

The vice-president specially called for support from all parties, including the Chinese Indonesian community, to implement the government's free nutritious meal program.

He lauded the Chinese community for its steadfast support of the government's development programs.

Accounting for less than 2 percent of the country's total population of 281 million people, Chinese Indonesians play an important role in the country's development. The community is held in high esteem for its entrepreneurial skills.

For the past 26 years, Indonesia has observed Chinese New Year, which is called Imlek, as a national holiday. It is attended by state leaders and officials, along with the leaders of various communities including those who follow the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Like most participants at the gathering, the vice-president wore a long-sleeved red batik shirt. Other officials who attended the celebrations included Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar and the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong.

Umar lauded Confucius' followers for their contributions to Indonesia, including the offering of scholarships, and the building last year of a Konghucu High Learning Institute in Bangka Belitung Province.

The institution, the first of its kind in Indonesia, is designed to provide up to doctoral degrees with the prospect of becoming a university, according to government officials.

Budi Tanuwibowo, chairman of the High Council of Konghucu Religion, said he is positive the nation will stay united despite the tough contests in the 2024 presidential and legislative elections that led to the victory of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice-President Gibran.

On Sunday, celebrations to mark Imlek were also held in Manado, the provincial capital of North Sulawesi. About 2,000 people gathered at the grand hall of the city's largest hotel.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.