Indonesia's President Launches China-Backed High-Speed Railway, Setting New Southeast Asian Record

Indonesia has officially launched Southeast Asia's fastest train route, connecting Jakarta to Bandung. The project, largely funded by China under the Belt and Road initiative, cost $7.3 billion and cuts travel time between the two cities from three hours to about 40 minutes. Despite delays and increasing costs, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has championed the project, emphasizing its modernization of mass transportation and environmental friendliness. China Railway has agreed to transfer its technology to Indonesia for domestic high-speed train production.