Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has expressed his eagerness to send more Indonesian students to New Zealand for medical and dental studies to address the country’s shortage of general practitioners and dentists.

He made the statement after holding a bilateral meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Friday.





"We aim to send more students to study medical sciences and dentistry because we are in urgent need of doctors and dentists," Prabowo said, according to a video released by his secretariat.





The president’s attention to cooperation in that field aligns with his remarks at a plenary cabinet meeting marking his administration’s first year in Jakarta on October 20, when he highlighted Indonesia’s deficit of over 140 thousand doctors.





Apart from human resource development, Prabowo and Luxon also discussed ways to open new avenues for broader bilateral collaboration in the economy, agriculture, and trade.





"Our bilateral trade has been constantly expanding over the past five years, with a growth rate of nearly 10 percent annually. Still, I am convinced that our countries can achieve more. We have been enjoying fruitful cooperation across various sectors," Prabowo said.





He expressed hope that both nations would take their longstanding partnership to new heights.





Prime Minister Luxon, for his part, shared Prabowo’s enthusiasm for enhancing trade ties and lauded Indonesia’s contributions to the ASEAN–New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and other regional initiatives.





Prabowo and Luxon previously met at the 2024 APEC Summit in Peru on November 15 last year, during which the Indonesian leader reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Indonesia–New Zealand strategic ties.





"We are in the same region and share common values and interests. I would like to reiterate my commitment to sustaining this harmonious partnership, bolstering the cooperation and friendship fostered between our countries," Prabowo told Luxon at that time.





Meanwhile, Luxon commended Indonesia for its constructive role in Southeast Asia and the world while noting the significant increase in bilateral trade volume in recent years. He added that the two nations hold strong potential for cooperation in renewable energy, food security, and tourism.

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