Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) had handed over a CT 7-9C aircraft engine that its technicians had repaired to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in Port Moresby on Wednesday.

The CT 7-9C aircraft engine belongs to the PNG Defence Force's CASA-235 plane.

Head of the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Joni Supriyanto represented TNI Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto at the handover ceremony, which took place at the Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Wednesday.

Lieutenant General Supriyanto said that the Indonesian military is cooperating with and supporting Papua New Guinea's Defence Department to strengthen Indonesian diplomacy in the neighboring country as part of efforts to ensure regional peace and stability.

"This cooperation will improve our diplomatic relations and mutual cooperation, particularly on defence diplomacy and border protection," he stated in a press statement released in Jakarta on Thursday.

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Meanwhile, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape expressed his gratitude and lauded the TNI for repairing the aircraft engine.

"Amity between our countries has been going on for many years, and until now our relationship remains exceptional with mutual respect to the national sovereignty," Prime Minister Marape stated.

Besides Lieutenant General Supriyanto, other TNI top brass also attended the ceremony in Port Moresby, including Commodore Didik Kurniawan, Brigadier General Rio Firdianto, and Brigadier General Joko Suparyoto.

The repaired CT 7-9C aircraft engine was transported to Port Moresby by the Indonesian Air Force's Hercules C-130, stationed at Abdulrachman Saleh Air Force Base in Malang, East Java. The flight crew was led by Major Abdillah Pulungan.

The aircraft engine was received by Prime Minister Marape, who was accompanied by his Deputy Chief of the PNG Defence Force Commodore Philip Polewara, Foreign Affairs Minister Soroe Eoe, and other military officers at the ceremony.

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Translator: Syaiful H, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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