- Indonesian President arrives in Pakistan on two-day visit.
- Indonesia’s President holds delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz.
- Pakistan and Indonesia agree to strengthen trade and defense cooperation.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday evening awarded the highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, to his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto at a special investiture ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defense Staff (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other senior officials attended the ceremony.
During his two-day official visit to Pakistan from December 8 to 9, conducted at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz, the Indonesian president held separate meetings with the country’s civilian and military leadership.
According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Subianto held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz and met President Zardari, CDF Field Marshal Munir and others.
The visit had special significance as Pakistan and Indonesia mark 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Recognizing that bilateral ties precede the independence of both countries, the two sides expressed firm resolve to build on this historical foundation and expand cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.
Both sides agreed to continue cooperation in a forward-looking manner and explore ways to further enhance bilateral engagement.
During the visit, the two sides reviewed the full range of relations and reaffirmed their commitment to deepen ties across political and diplomatic, economic and trade, security and defense, cultural and educational, science and technology and health sectors.
The leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening high-level exchanges, political dialogue, effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms and strengthening inter-parliamentary relations.
Economic cooperation
Reaffirming their commitment to expanding trade and economic cooperation, both sides noted that while bilateral trade has doubled since 2014 and surpassed the $4 billion mark, significant opportunities remain untapped.
It was agreed to convene a meeting of the Joint Negotiations Committee (JNC) at the earliest to upgrade the existing IP-PTA to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2027 through deeper concessions, removal of non-tariff barriers and increased cooperation.
Recognizing the importance of traditional trade goods – including agricultural and industrial goods, palm oil, surgical instruments and pharmaceutical products – both sides also agreed to explore cooperation in services such as information technology, cyber security and fintech.
They further emphasized on strengthening mutual investments to diversify and expand economic engagement, including in sectors such as agriculture, IT, mining and minerals, tourism, infrastructure, digital connectivity and energy through collaboration between Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and Indonesia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (Danantara).
Recognizing the importance of defense cooperation, both sides agreed to deepen cooperation through enhanced high-level military interactions, institutionalization of defense industrial cooperation, specialized training programs and exchanges between military institutions in accordance with respective laws.
Both leaders also agreed to explore further opportunities for defense industry cooperation as well as maritime and aviation-related training.
Security challenges
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on cross-border security challenges, including preventing and combating terrorism, violent extremism and illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, new psychoactive substances and their precursors, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
Pakistan appreciated Indonesia’s progress in strengthening its national health sector. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in health services, human resource development, medical equipment, digital health, emergency preparedness, vaccine production, disease control and maternal and child health, subject to national regulations.
Recognizing the threat posed by climate change, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in disaster management and climate resilience through knowledge sharing, capacity building and joint initiatives.
Highlighting the potential for cooperation in tourism, rooted in shared history and culture, both sides reaffirmed their intention to deepen cooperation through knowledge sharing, sustainable tourism projects and joint promotional activities.
Pakistan briefed the Indonesian delegation on the developments in relation to the situation in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Humanitarian crisis in Palestine
The leaders expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and reaffirmed their longstanding support for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions and internationally agreed parameters.
Both sides welcomed the Gaza peace plan and appreciated their continued diplomatic efforts in support of peace.
In continuation of existing bilateral mechanisms, the two sides signed several agreements and MoUs during the visit.
President Subianto expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan for the warm hospitality extended to him.
— With additional input from Radio Pakistan.
