ISLAMABAD- President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday night conferred the country’s highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during a special investiture ceremony at the President House in Islamabad.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with other senior civil and military officials.
Subianto is in Pakistan on a two-day official visit from December 8 to 9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the visit, he held separate meetings with the country’s civil and military leadership, including delegation-level talks with the prime minister and meetings with President Zardari and Field Marshal Munir.
According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit carries special significance as Pakistan and Indonesia mark 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to build on historic ties that predate the independence of both nations and to expand cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.
The two countries reviewed the full spectrum of their relationship and expressed commitment to deepening engagement in political, economic, defence, cultural, education, science and technology, and health sectors. They also stressed the importance of high-level exchanges, political dialogue, inter-parliamentary cooperation and effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms.
Reaffirming their commitment to expanding trade and economic ties, both sides noted that bilateral trade has doubled since 2014 and surpassed the 4 billion dollar mark, though significant potential remains untapped.
It was agreed to convene the Joint Negotiations Committee soon to upgrade the existing IP-PTA to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2027, through deeper concessions, removal of non-tariff barriers and enhanced cooperation.
Both countries also agreed to explore opportunities in IT, cybersecurity, fintech and services, along with enhancing mutual investments in agriculture, IT, mining and minerals, tourism, infrastructure, digital connectivity and energy. This will be facilitated through cooperation between Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council and Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara.
Acknowledging the importance of defence cooperation, the two sides agreed to deepen collaboration through high-level military interactions, defence industrial partnerships, specialised training programmes and institutional exchanges. They also discussed opportunities for collaboration in maritime and aviation-related training.
On broader security challenges, both sides reaffirmed their resolve to counter terrorism, violent extremism and illicit drug trafficking, in line with international law and the UN Charter.
Pakistan and Indonesia agreed to expand cooperation in health, including human resource development, medical devices, digital health, vaccine production, disease control and maternal and child care.
Recognising the shared threat posed by climate change, both sides vowed to enhance collaboration in disaster management and climate resilience through joint initiatives and knowledge-sharing.
They also highlighted the potential for cooperation in tourism, rooted in shared cultural and historical ties, and agreed to boost collaboration through sustainable ventures and joint promotional efforts.
Pakistan briefed the Indonesian delegation on developments in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Both sides expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and reaffirmed their support for a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. They welcomed the Gaza Peace Plan and appreciated ongoing diplomatic efforts for peace.
Multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed during the visit to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
President Subianto thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan for the warm hospitality extended to him.
