01/25/2025
New Delhi, Jan. 25: India and Indonesia signed pacts on maritime security, health, traditional medicine, culture and digital cooperation as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the visiting President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto on Saturday. Subianto is the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations on Sunday.
After the bilateral talks in Hyderabad House, Modi addressed him as “brother” and said they have decided to work in the field of defence manufacturing and supply chain to take forward defence cooperation.
“Crime prevention, search and rescue, and capacity building will be strengthened after the signing of the maritime security pact,” he said.
He said they have decided to strengthen cooperation in the field of maritime security, cyber security, counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation. The two sides will also conduct joint exercises by disaster management teams.
They also agreed to cooperate on fintech, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure. Modi said that India has shared its experiences in implementing the mid-day meal scheme and public distribution system.
He also said they have agreed to cooperate in the fields of energy, critical minerals, space and STEM education.
He welcomed Indonesia in the BRICS grouping, and said that the two countries work together in G20 and ASEAN groupings.
Calling Modi “my good brother”, Subianto said that the Indonesian side will be sending a high-level defence delegation to India to follow up on the recent ratification of the defence pact.
He emphasised on economic cooperation, and asked Indian investors and companies to come and participate in the infrastructure development in Indonesia.
He also said he has “given direction to the team to expedite and cut bureaucracy, cut too much over regulation” to pursue common bilateral interest and “increase economic partnership” with India.
The Indonesian President pitched for stronger educational cooperation, increase of Indonesian students studying in India, and invited Indian educational institutions to open campuses in Indonesia.
Subianto recalled that India had invited then Indonesian President Sukarno for the first Republic Day parade in 1950. He said that India was one of the co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement after the Bandung conference and is now championing South-South cooperation, as the “voice of the Global South”.
Subianto is the fourth Indonesian leader invited by India to attend its Republic Day celebrations as chief guest: In 1950, when India celebrated its first Republic Day, it was President Sukarno. The choice of chief guest every year is dictated by a number of reasons — strategic and diplomatic, business interest and international geo-politics.
This year, a 352-member marching and band contingent from Indonesia will be participating in the Republic Day parade. It’s the first time an Indonesian marching and band contingent is taking part in a national day parade abroad. The President thanked the Indian government for the opportunity. He also invited PM Modi to visit Indonesia.
Earlier in the day, he met President Draupadi Murmu and was accorded the ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan.-Agencies
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