Two countries agree to review the PTA; Subianto discusses defense ties with CDF Munir
President Asif Ali Zardari confers Nishan-e-Pakistan to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif looks on. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed on Tuesday to strengthen bilateral trade, expand cooperation in health, agriculture, information technology, science and education, and deepen coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine.
Addressing a joint press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subiato at the Prime Minister’s House, the prime minister said Pakistan and Indonesia were committed to boosting bilateral trade, which currently stands at $4.5 billion, noting that more than 90 percent of the total trade was palm oil imports from Indonesia to Pakistan.
He said the two sides discussed remedial measures to help balance trade between the two countries, including increasing Pakistan’s exports of agricultural products, initiatives focused on information technology and other sectors.
The prime minister also proposed sending doctors, dentists, medical professors and other health experts to Indonesia to help meet the needs of Indonesia’s medical universities and hospitals.
“I want to assure you that whatever is possible for us in this regard, we will do without delay,” he said.
Sharif highlighted that bilateral relations between the two countries have lasted for over 75 years, noting that their ties predate Pakistan’s independence. He recalled that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had supported the Indonesian independence movement and said Indonesia stood firmly with Pakistan during the 1965 war.
Referring to regional and global issues, the prime minister praised Indonesia’s stance on Gaza and said it was time for the international community to act to end the ongoing bloodshed.
He expressed confidence that ties between the two countries would continue to grow and that President Prabowo’s visit would take relations to “new heights.”
The Indonesian president thanked the government and people of Pakistan for the warm welcome, noting that his plane was escorted by JF-17 Thunder aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.
The Indonesian president said the bilateral meeting was productive and resulted in agreements in several areas of cooperation, including trade, education, agriculture, science and technology. He described Islam as a moderate religion that promotes inclusion and tolerance, adding that Pakistan and Indonesia shared historical and brotherly relations.
He welcomed Pakistan’s offer of assistance in the health sector, saying Indonesia had vast needs for doctors, dentists and medical experts, and described Pakistan’s support as strategic and critical. He said he had asked Indonesian ministers to accelerate practical cooperation with Pakistan in several areas.
He also said the two countries closely coordinate their foreign policies, especially regarding Palestine and Gaza, reaffirming Indonesia’s support for a two-state solution. He added that the foreign ministers of the two sides remained in close contact.
Earlier, the two sides led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reviewed the overall bilateral relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their common commitment to further strengthen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
These areas included political and diplomatic engagement, economic and trade relations, defense and security, health, education, science and technology, agriculture and environmental collaboration.
The two sides also agreed to elevate their historic bilateral relations to a dynamic and forward-looking partnership.
During the bilateral talks, the Prime Minister was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Force Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, ministers and senior officials of the media wing of the Prime Minister’s Office, a press release said.
Expressing satisfaction with the upward trajectory of bilateral trade, both sides agreed to review the Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (IP-PTA) to further increase the volume of bilateral trade, which currently stands at around $4 billion, while undertaking efforts to address the trade imbalance.
They particularly stressed the importance of expanding cooperation in the halal industry, trade in agricultural products, information technology, technical and vocational education, etc.
Both sides agreed to promote collaboration on investments and joint ventures in various sectors, through enhanced cooperation between the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Indonesian Sovereign Fund (Danantara).
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including the situation in Kashmir and Gaza, reiterating their common commitment to peaceful resolution of conflicts in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the protection of human rights.
Prime Minister Sharif appreciated President Prabowo’s active diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including his role in pursuing ceasefire agreements and providing humanitarian aid.
Both leaders appreciated the close and active cooperation between the two countries in multilateral forums, including the UN, OIC and D-8.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed an exchange of memorandums of understanding and agreements between the two sides in various fields.
The Prime Minister also hosted a luncheon in honor of the President and his accompanying delegation.
“The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Indonesia, a historic milestone in the fraternal ties between the two nations,” it added.
Meeting with the CDF
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defense Force (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto in Islamabad on Tuesday.
During the meeting, issues of mutual interest, regional security and bilateral defense cooperation were discussed, said a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Both sides reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen existing ties between the armed forces of the two brotherly countries.
The visiting dignitary appreciated the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and recognized Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability.
The COAS and CDF reiterated that Pakistan values its long-standing relations with Indonesia and is committed to expanding defense collaboration in the areas of training, counter-terrorism and capacity building, he added.
Memorandum of Understanding
The Ministry of Federal Education and Vocational Training (FE&PT) of Pakistan and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia have signed an agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the education sector.
According to the FE&PT Ministry on Tuesday, an agreement was signed between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, on the mutual recognition of higher education certificates and diplomas.
Additionally, two memorandums of understanding were also signed between the two governments.
The documents were signed by Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister FE&PT of Pakistan, and Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia.
Nishan-e-Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo at a special inauguration ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif; Senate President, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani; the President of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq; members of the federal cabinet; Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori; Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah; Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore; Chief of Defense Force, Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir; Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu; Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf NI (M); parliamentarians and members of the diplomatic corps.
