BEIJING, March 21, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated Prabowo Subianto on his victory in Indonesia's presidential election, Beijing's state news agency Xinhua said.

Prabowo and his vice presidential running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of outgoing leader Joko Widodo, had already declared victory after unofficial counts showed them winning a majority in the February vote.

China is one of the biggest sources of foreign direct investment in Indonesia.

Last year, Jakarta inaugurated Southeast Asia's first high-speed rail, a multibillion-dollar project backed by Beijing.

Chinese companies have poured billions into natural resources in Indonesia in recent years, particularly the nickel sector.

That spending has stoked unrest over pay and working conditions at several Chinese-funded nickel-processing plants, as Jakarta pushes to become a major player in the EV supply chain.