DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Bali Governor Wayan Koster held an official meeting with Chinese Consul General in Denpasar, H.E. Zhang Zhisheng, on Thursday, May 14, 2026, to discuss expanding cooperation between Bali and China across several strategic sectors, including waste management, tourism, digital transformation, and agricultural exports.
The meeting took place at the official residence of the Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar and focused on strengthening bilateral collaboration amid growing economic and tourism ties between Bali and China.
During the discussion, Consul General Zhang praised what he described as visible infrastructure and development progress in Bali over the past two years.
“I see very positive changes. Roads and various facilities have developed rapidly. I also visited Buleleng. In 2024, when I went to Ubud and several other places, many roads were still in poor condition. Now there are many visible improvements,” Zhang said.
He also highlighted cooperation in handling issues involving Chinese nationals in Bali and described local authorities as responsive in maintaining security and public order.
One of the key topics discussed was Bali’s planned Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) project, which will be developed in partnership with Chinese company Zhejiang Weiming. Zhang said China supports the initiative and emphasized the importance of reliable electricity supply and long-term waste management solutions for Bali.
“I can assure you that Zhejiang Weiming is a professional investor with successful experience in many places. We also ensure that all processes comply with the applicable laws in Bali,” Zhang stated.
According to the consul general, China is also interested in supporting Bali’s development in creative industries, fisheries, agriculture, and digital transformation.
He specifically mentioned Bali’s mangosteen and salak fruit exports as products with strong potential in the Chinese market.
“Bali mangosteen has enormous export potential to China. Salak is also highly demanded and supply is still insufficient. Its unique taste is very popular among Chinese consumers,” he said.
The meeting also touched on cross-border digital payment cooperation through QRIS integration between Indonesia and China, which officials said has helped simplify transactions for tourists and businesses.
Zhang additionally invited Governor Koster to visit China, including technology hubs such as Shenzhen, to explore further cooperation in investment and digital development.
Responding to the invitation, Governor Koster said Bali fully supports the strengthening of Indonesia-China relations under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.
Koster noted that Bali and China share longstanding historical and cultural connections, including Chinese cultural influences found in several Balinese religious sites.
“In several sacred places in Bali, there is worship of Chinese deities. Culturally, Balinese Hindu society shares several values similar to Chinese culture,” Koster said.
He also pointed out that Chinese tourists remain one of Bali’s largest international visitor groups, currently ranking third after Australia and India.
Regarding the Waste-to-Energy project, Koster said he is directly overseeing preparations together with the Badung Regent and Denpasar Mayor to ensure construction proceeds smoothly ahead of the planned groundbreaking ceremony in July 2026.
The governor said land preparation and administrative finalization are currently ongoing, with the project targeted for completion by October 2027 after an estimated 15-month construction period.
According to Koster, the facility is expected to help reduce waste problems in Denpasar and Badung while supporting Bali’s image as a cleaner and more modern international tourism destination.