Departing from Brussels, Belgium, the president landed at Paris' Orly Airport at 6:35 p.m. local time. He was welcomed by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, French Ambassador to Indonesia Fabien Penone, and Indonesian Ambassador to France Muhammad Oemar.
President Prabowo, accompanied by Minister Retailleau, then inspected the 20-member honor guard for his welcoming ceremony.
In a statement, the Presidential Secretariat described the welcoming ceremony for President Prabowo at Orly Airport as "reflecting the warm welcome from the French government to the visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia."
Members of the Indonesian diaspora, including children dressed in traditional Indonesian costumes, gathered at his hotel in Paris to greet the president.
Nini Martini, an Indonesian diaspora who has lived in Paris for nearly five decades, expressed her joy that President Prabowo was invited to attend the Bastille Day parade.
"We are thankful that Mr. President was invited to Bastille Day, the greatest event in France," she stated.
Meanwhile, Jefri Simanjuntak, another diaspora member who has lived in Paris for a decade, expressed hope that bilateral relations and cooperation between Indonesia and France will grow stronger in the future.
"I was proud because Mr. Prabowo greeted me with 'horas' greetings. As a Batak, I am proud and feel appreciated," Simanjuntak stated while highlighting his Batak ethnic heritage.
The Bastille Day parade will take place on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on Monday at 10 a.m. local time. For the first time, Indonesia sent its contingent to participate in the military parade.
The Indonesian contingent comprised 500 military and police officers and cadets from the Indonesian military and police academies.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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