President Prabowo Welcomes German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Merdeka Palace

President Prabowo Subianto welcomes President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday (06/15).

President Prabowo Subianto, on Monday (06/15), welcomed President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier upon his arrival for a state visit at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

This visit signifies an important milestone in strengthening the friendly relations and bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Germany.

President Steinmeier arrived at the Merdeka Palace at around 11.30 a.m. Western Indonesian time. He was welcomed with full state honors, featuring an escort of 17 Honda Goldwing outriders, along with a cavalry of 80 horsemen in the front formation and 40 horsemen in the rear formation.

President Steinmeier was also enthusiastically welcomed by hundreds of students standing in rows and waving the flags of both countries. The President was seen waving from his vehicle to hundreds of flag-waving students, just as the honor guard formed to pay tribute during the state welcoming ceremony.

The welcoming atmosphere was further enlivened by a performance of the Zapin dance, presented by 10 dancers and six musicians. President Steinmeier paused to see the traditional Zapin dance, which symbolizes the dignified hospitality, respect, and the hope for unity and shared progress between the two countries.

President Prabowo then personally welcomed President Steinmeier on the west side of the Merdeka Palace. The two leaders shook hands and then walked together to the front veranda.

The state welcoming ceremony commenced with the playing of the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Germany, followed by the Indonesian national anthem “Indonesia Raya.” The procession was also accompanied by a 21-gun salute as a mark of state honor.

Afterward, President Prabowo and President Steinmeier proceeded to inspect the honor guard before introducing their respective delegations to each other.

The ceremony then continued with the signing of the state guest book and a group photo session at the credential room. Subsequently, President Steinmeier headed to President Prabowo’s office for a tête-à-tête meeting, which lasted two hours, to discuss various strategic issues and strengthen bilateral ties.

In a joint press statement, President Prabowo expressed appreciation for President Steinmeier’s state visit. The President shared that the visit holds significant importance for the long-standing relations between the two countries.

“I would like to extend a warm welcome and express my gratitude to President Steinmeier for his return visit to Indonesia. This is a great honor for us. This state visit is of great significance to Indonesia because it also emphasizes the excellent relationship between Germany and Indonesia,” President Prabowo said.

President Steinmeier’s state visit concluded with a state luncheon held at the State Palace, Jakarta.

The Indonesian delegation present at the welcoming ceremony were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Minister of Investment Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Mukhtarudin, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Federal Republic of Germany Abdul Kadir Jailani. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (FI/TM)