- Indonesian President arrives in Pakistan for a two-day visit.
- The Indonesian president meets at the level of his delegation with Prime Minister Shehbaz.
- Pakistan and Indonesia agree to strengthen trade and defense cooperation.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday evening conferred the highest civilian honor, Nishan-e-Pakistan, on his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto at a special inauguration ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Senate President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defense Forces (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 on December 8-9, undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz, the Indonesian President held separate meetings with the country’s civil 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 with President Zardari, Civil Defense Force Marshal Munir and others.
The visit assumes particular significance as Pakistan and Indonesia celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Recognizing that bilateral relations predate the independence of the two countries, both sides expressed their firm determination to build on these historical foundations and expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
Both sides agreed to continue their cooperation in a forward-looking manner and explore ways to further strengthen bilateral engagement.
During the visit, the two sides reviewed the overall relations and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their ties in the political and diplomatic, economic and commercial, security and defense, cultural and educational, scientific and technological and health sectors.
The leaders stressed 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 developing trade and economic cooperation, the two sides noted that although bilateral trade has doubled since 2014 and exceeded the $4 billion mark, significant opportunities remain untapped.
It was agreed to convene a meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) at the earliest to transform the existing IP-PTA into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2027 through deeper concessions, removal of non-tariff barriers and enhanced cooperation.
Recognizing the importance of traditional trade products – including agricultural and industrial products, palm oil, surgical instruments and pharmaceuticals – the two sides also agreed to explore cooperation in services such as information technology, cybersecurity and financial technology.
They further highlighted strengthening mutual investments to diversify and expand economic engagement, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, IT, mines and minerals, tourism, infrastructure, digital connectivity and energy, through cooperation between the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) of Pakistan and the Indonesian Sovereign Fund (Danantara).
Recognizing the importance of defense cooperation, the two sides agreed to deepen their collaboration by strengthening high-level military interactions, institutionalizing defense industrial cooperation, establishing specialized training programs and promoting exchanges between military institutions, in accordance with respective laws.
The two leaders also agreed to explore new opportunities for collaboration with the defense industry, as well as maritime and aviation training.
Security Challenges
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on transnational security challenges, including preventing and combating terrorism, violent extremism and illicit trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic substances, new psychoactive substances and their precursors, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Pakistan appreciated Indonesia’s progress in strengthening its national health sector. Both sides agreed to expand collaboration in health services, human resources development, medical devices, digital health, emergency preparedness, vaccine production, disease control and maternal and child health, subject to national regulations.
Aware of the threat posed by climate change, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on disaster management and climate resilience through knowledge sharing, capacity building and joint initiatives.
Highlighting the potential for collaboration in tourism, rooted in common history and culture, the two 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 related to the situation in 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 long-standing 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 towards peace.
Further relying on existing bilateral mechanisms, the two sides signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding during the visit.
President Subianto expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan for the warm hospitality extended to him.
— With additional contribution from Radio Pakistan.
