On October 16, 2024, the opening ceremony of the Herbal Horticulture Science Park was held at Lake Toba, Indonesia. The event was attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, and other dignitaries. Professor Xu Kaihua, Chairman of GEM, and Mrs. Wang Min, co-founder and Board Director of GEM, were invited.

President Joko Widodo delivers a speech at the opening ceremony

President Joko Widodo engages in a discussion with Professor Xu Kaihua

After the ceremony, President Joko immediately exchanged pleasantries and took a photo with Chairman Xu Kaihua. Chairman Xu expressed his gratitude to President Joko for his strong support for China-Indonesia cooperation. He passionately praised that under President Joko's leadership, the cooperation between China and Indonesia has reached its highest point in 5,000 years, calling him a great president of Indonesia. Chairman Xu reported on GEM's investments and achievements in Indonesia, noting the country's favorable investment environment. President Joko was pleased with the praise and took a friendly photo with Chairman Xu and Mrs. Wang Min.

President Joko (center) takes a photo with Chairman Xu and Mrs. Wang Min

Before the event, Minister Luhut personally accompanied Chairman Xu and his delegation on a tour of the Herbal Horticulture Science Park, focusing on the gene laboratory and herbal nursery cultivation room. Minister Luhut thanked Chairman Xu for his significant contributions to Indonesia's economic development, particularly for his generous donation to the park. He emphasized that without Chairman Xu’s support, the construction of the park would not have progressed as rapidly. They also engaged in an in-depth discussion about the future of Indonesia's green industry. Chairman Xu thanked Minister Luhut for his strong support over the past five years and highlighted the vast potential of ecological herbs and agriculture within the green industry.

Minister Luhut (first from the right) and Chairman Xu discuss the development of ecological herbs and agriculture

Minister Luhut (front row, second from the left) accompanies Chairman Xu’s delegation on a tour of the Herbal Horticulture Science Park

Minister Luhut (first from the right) leads Chairman Xu’s delegation during their visit to the nursery cultivation room

To further enhance technological and cultural exchanges in Indonesia, Chairman Xu and his delegation also visited Del Institute of Technology during their stay at Lake Toba. Established in 2001 by the Del Foundation, founded by Minister Luhut, Del Institute is a private undergraduate institution with over 1,600 students. Chairman Xu and Dr. Arnaldo Marulitua Sinaga, president of the institute, discussed international collaboration in industry-academia-research and reached a consensus on specific cooperation in five areas: talent cultivation, student internships and employment, academic exchanges, scholarships, and the establishment of a science center to promote Indonesia's technological and economic development and build a model for cultural exchange between China and Indonesia.

Chairman Xu and his delegation visit Del Institute of Technology with President Dr. Arnaldo Marulitua Sinaga (sixth from the left)

During the visit to Del Institute, Chairman Xu delivered an impromptu speech to over a hundred metallurgy students, sharing his experiences from over 40 years ago in the metallurgy field. He encouraged students to excel in green metallurgy and pursue dreams in new energy, contributing to Indonesia's transition to a new energy era. GEM will actively collaborate with Del Institute to cultivate high-level metallurgy talent. Chairman Xu's speech inspired the students, leading to resounding applause.

Chairman Xu delivers an impromptu speech to metallurgy students at Del Institute and takes a photo

Ms. Xu Xiaolan, Chairwoman of Yangtze River Arts Engineering Vocational College, accompanied the delegation during their visit to Lake Toba.

Lake Toba, located in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, is the largest freshwater lake in the country and the largest volcanic lake in the world, renowned as a highland lake and tourist destination.