Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia Prior to Departure for Working Visit to New Delhi, India at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta, Thursday, January 23, 2025
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Good afternoon,
May peace be upon us all,
Shalom,
Salve,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue,
Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow citizens wherever you are, journalists.
Today, I am going to kick off a working visit to India, to New Delhi, to attend the invitation from the Government of India with several ministers as delegates, some of whom have already departed to have a meeting with their counterparts, their partners, to complete several agreements and MoU.
I will be there for a state visit and bilateral meeting. Secondly, I was invited to attend as a guest of honor at the celebration of the 76th Republic Day of India on January 26, 2025. I certainly will have a bilateral meeting with the President of India and Prime Minister of India; the Indian Prime Minister, His Excellency Narendra Modi and the Indian President, Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu.
The agreements, MoU exchanges cover several sectors, including the healthcare sector, cultural exchange programs, security issues, maritime safety, and technological and digital development. I will also meet industry figures and distinguished businesspeople from India who wish to invest in Indonesia. Representatives from our Chamber of Commerce will also attend the meeting.
For the celebration of their 76th Republic Day, they also invited our defense forces, those who will take part in the defile. If I am not mistaken, we got an honorable position. We are at the forefront of the defile as the contingent of honor. We sent 352 soldiers and students of the Military Academy to participate.
From India, I will fly to Malaysia to pay a state visit and attend the invitation of His Majesty the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim. I will also have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
India is a very important country to Indonesia. It is a friendly country and one of those that supported our fight for independence the most. India gained her independence in 1947, and after that, they continued to support our cause for independence. Our war of independence lasted until 1949, and they sent medicines, financial assistance, and the like, to support our fight for independence. Thus, for us, India is a friendly country and a very important partner.
The same goes for Malaysia, our close neighbor as we are of the same kin; we share cultural background, ethnic background, and historical background. We have many similarities and we strengthen cooperation as founding members of ASEAN with Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Brunei. We are the drivers of ASEAN. ASEAN has certainly advanced now, and I suppose Indonesia and Malaysia play a vital role in implementing ASEAN cooperation and other strategic cooperation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I kindly request your prayers for a successful visit to India and Malaysia.
On this occasion, I would like to express my sincerest condolences for the casualties caused by the floods and landslides that occurred in Pekalongan city, Central Java province. I have directly assigned Head of the National Agency for Disaster Management and his staff to move quickly at the location to assist the regional government and coordinate with other relevant institutions. To ensure that actions are made and aid is distributed swiftly and right on target, I will continue to assist the development.
That concludes my statement. Please excuse me as I will depart soon.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Shalom,
Salve,
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue,
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
(DH/MUR)