Jakarta, ThedailyID — President Prabowo Subianto officially welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Merdeka Palace on Tuesday as the two leaders began a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between Indonesia and India.
Modi arrived at the Presidential Palace complex at around 10:22 a.m. WIB after touring the National Monument (Monas) area. An escort of 120 mounted cavalry, supported by 17 motorcycle officers, accompanied his motorcade.
Prabowo greeted Modi upon his arrival. The two leaders embraced before attending the official state welcoming ceremony.
Meanwhile, around 1,300 elementary school students waved Indonesian and Indian flags during the ceremony. Of those, 300 stood inside the palace grounds, while another 1,000 lined the streets outside the complex.
The welcome also featured the Betawi cultural performance Kemilau Jakarta, showcasing Indonesia’s hospitality and cultural heritage.
The ceremony continued with the national anthems of Indonesia and India, followed by a 21-gun salute in honor of the Indian prime minister. Prabowo and Modi then inspected the honor guard before introducing members of their respective delegations.
Afterward, the two leaders entered Merdeka Palace for a private meeting. They later held bilateral talks with senior officials from both countries.
Officials accompanying Prabowo included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Culture Minister Fadli Zon, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
The bilateral discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in several sectors. These include healthcare, space technology, pharmaceuticals, food security, and technological development. Both countries are also expected to sign several memorandums of understanding during the visit.
Modi’s itinerary also includes a visit to Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta as part of a joint restoration initiative between Indonesia and India.
This marks Modi’s second official visit to Indonesia after his 2018 trip. The three-day visit is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership that the two countries have maintained since establishing diplomatic relations in 1951.
