NEW DELHI: India and Indonesia held talks on Saturday to strengthen their bilateral ties and signed several agreements at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The meeting, held ahead of Republic Day, was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. PM Modi mentioned the special bond between the two countries and recalled that Indonesia was India’s first Republic Day chief guest.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed President Subianto, stating the historical bond that two countries share. “Indonesia was the chief guest country at India’s first Republic Day and as we celebrate 75 years of the Republic, it is with great pride that Indonesia is once again a part of this occasion,” the Prime Minister said.
During the discussions, both leaders focused on improving collaboration in critical areas. Prime Minister Modi noted that their 2018 agreement to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership had paved the way for closer ties. “Today we held extensive discussions on mutual cooperation. To increase collaboration in the defense sector, we have agreed to work together in defense manufacturing and supply. We also emphasized cooperation in maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and deradicalization “. PM Modi added.
A highlight was the signing of an agreement on maritime security. The agreement aims to boost collaboration in crime prevention, search and rescue operations and capacity development.
The prime minister also announced plans to strengthen cooperation in emerging sectors such as Fintech, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Digital Public Infrastructure.
On the economic front, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the rapid growth in bilateral trade, which crossed $30 billion last year. President Subianto expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and stressed the importance of reducing bureaucracy and excessive regulation to facilitate greater economic cooperation. “We had very intense and frank discussions. I have directed my team to accelerate and prioritize the bilateral interests of Indonesia and India,” Subianto said.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia is located on land donated by the Indian government before we were recognized by many other countries in the world. We are very honored that you will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade tomorrow. We would like to “I thank India for supporting our outstanding BRICS membership,” the Indonesian president added.
Cultural cooperation also featured prominently in the talks. Prime Minister Modi announced India’s support for the conservation of Indonesia’s Prambanan Hindu temple, following its earlier contribution to the preservation of the Borobudur Buddhist temple.
He also added that 2025 would be celebrated as the India-ASEAN “Year of Tourism” to promote cultural exchange and tourism between the two countries.
