President Prabowo Subianto received Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a state visit on Thursday morning at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
Upon arrival at the palace grounds, the Australian premier's entourage was greeted by honor guards and hundreds of elementary school pupils waving Indonesian and Australian flags.
President Prabowo personally greeted PM Albanese at the palace before proceeding to the welcoming ceremony, during which a ceremonial band performed the national anthems of both countries: "Advance Australia Fair" and "Indonesia Raya."
The two leaders then inspected the troops and introduced members of the respective delegations before proceeding with their meeting agenda within the palace complex.
Several Indonesian cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, and State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, accompanied the president.
The president then escorted the Australian premier to the Credential Room, where Albanese signed the presidential guest book and posed for a photo session with Prabowo.
The leaders had a tête-à-tête meeting before continuing to a bilateral meeting with delegations from the two countries. The leaders' meeting will conclude with a banquet at the Merdeka Palace.
According to Indonesia's Foreign Ministry, PM Albanese and President Prabowo Subianto will discuss bilateral relations during their meeting, with a particular focus on economic issues such as food and energy sufficiency and bilateral trade.
The two leaders will also address priority issues for both governments, as well as regional and global matters.
PM Albanese's state visit to Indonesia will run from May 14 to 16, 2025, marking his first international trip since securing a second term in office earlier this month.
Meanwhile, after concluding his visit to Indonesia, Albanese will travel to the Vatican to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on May 18, according to a release by the Australian Prime Minister's office. He will visit Singapore on May 20 before returning to Australia.
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Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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