"I will... I will... I love your country," Macron told Hafid during their meeting at the sidelines of the AI Action Summit (AIAS) on Tuesday, Paris time, according to the ministry's written statement on Wednesday.
Macron's visit marks the first state visit by a French leader since the strategic partnership between Indonesia and France was established in 2011 when Prime Minister François Fillon met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta.
Hafid highlighted that Macron's visit will be a new milestone in Indonesia-France bilateral relations.
"President Macron's visit to Indonesia will strengthen our strategic cooperation in various sectors, including digital economy, artificial intelligence, defense, and green energy," the minister stated.
Since the signing of the bilateral strategic partnership in 2011, Indonesia and France have maintained strong cooperation in the trade, defense, and technology sectors.
Hence, Macron's visit to Indonesia is expected to open a new chapter in the strategic partnership, particularly in collective efforts to address global challenges in the digital era.
During his visit to Indonesia, Macron will meet with his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, and attend strategic agenda to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Minister Hafid is in the French capital to attend the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit (AIAS) on February 10-11, 2025.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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