Indonesia and Brazil Deepen Strategic Ties

President Prabowo Subianto welcomes the arrival of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday (10/23). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto Thursday (10/23) held a bilateral meeting with President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

This meeting marked an important momentum to strengthen strategic partnership between the two countries.

In his address, President Prabowo Subianto expressed honor and happiness for the visit of President Lula da Silva and First Lady Janja Lula da Silva along with the Brazilian delegation to Jakarta.

The President also appreciated the warm reception he received during his visit to Brasilia in July.

“It is a great honor for us to receive Your Excellency and the delegation in Jakarta after my visit to Brasilia last July. Thank you for the very kind reception I received during my state visit to Brazil. Now, Your Excellency reciprocates that state visit, and we thank you very much,” said the President.

The Head of State also emphasized that the state visit of the two leaders is proof of the increasingly close friendship between Indonesia and Brazil, adding that such relations need to be continuously strengthened through concrete cooperation in various mutually beneficial fields for the people of both countries.

“Our state visit is proof that the friendship between our two countries is growing closer. We both wish to strengthen the friendship and, more importantly, cooperation in all fields,” the President stated.

On that occasion, the President also extended congratulations on the 203rd Independence Day of Brazil, which was recently celebrated on September 7, 2025, highlighting the progress in bilateral relations, especially in the economic sector, and reaffirmed the commitment to accelerate the establishment of the Indonesia–Mercosur Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

“Your Excellency, I am pleased to see the progress of our bilateral relations, especially in the economic field. We will continue to plan dialog toward the establishment of the Indonesia–Mercosur CEPA. I am confident that this will strengthen our relationship and accelerate the development of both our economies and the entire Latin American economy,” he said, adding that Indonesia and Brazil hold strategic positions as emerging economic powers worldwide.

With a combined population of half a billion people, he continued, both countries have great potentials to drive regional economic growth.

“We are both emerging economic powers. Your Excellency has reminded us that our two countries account for 500 million people. Half a billion of the world’s population are from our countries. Moreover, now that we are part of BRICS, if we produce the Indonesia–Mercosur CEPA, this will greatly boost our joint economic strength,” explained President Prabowo.

The President also mentioned that in this bilateral meeting, both countries would sign four important agreements as tangible evidence of rapid progress in the bilateral relationship.

Moreover, as a sign of appreciation for Brazil, the President also announced plans to include Portuguese as one of the priority languages in the Indonesian education system.

“This is proof that we view relationship between Brazil and Indonesia as extremely important,” the President remarked. (BPMI) (EST/EP)