Islamabad: Pakistan and Indonesia have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including political and diplomatic engagement, economic and trade relations. This resolve was expressed at a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Islamabad today.
According to Radio Pakistan, the two leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and aimed to solidify collaboration in defence and security, health, education, science and technology, agriculture, and the environment. The two sides agreed to elevate their historic bilateral relations to a forward-looking, dynamic partnership.
Expressing satisfaction with the upward trajectory of bilateral trade, both sides agreed to review the Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement to further expand the volume of bilateral trade, currently standing at around four billion dollars, while undertaking efforts to address the trade imbalance. They particularly emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the halal industry, trade in agricultural commodities, information technology, and technical and vocational education.
The two sides agreed to promote collaboration in investments and joint ventures across sectors through enhanced cooperation between the Special Investment Facilitation Council and the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Indonesia (Danantara). The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for President Prabowo’s welfare-oriented initiatives, including the “Free Nutritious Meal Program.”
While noting Indonesia’s interest in enhancing cooperation in the health sector, Pakistan agreed to explore ways to enhance cooperation through the exchange of medical professionals, mutual recognition of medical qualifications, and offering specialized training. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including the situation in Kashmir and Gaza, reiterating their shared commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the protection of human rights.
The Prime Minister appreciated President Prabowo’s active diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including his role in pursuing ceasefire arrangements and delivering humanitarian assistance. Both leaders appreciated the close and active cooperation between the two countries at multilateral fora, including the United Nations, OIC, and D-8. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Indonesia on assuming the Chair of D-8 and assured the Indonesian President of Pakistan’s full support at this forum.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed an exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and agreements in diverse fields. Earlier, upon arrival at the Prime Minister House, President Prabowo Subianto was given a guard of honour as a mark of respect and honour. The leaders held a tete-a-tete meeting, followed by delegation-level talks, with the Prime Minister assisted by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, cabinet ministers, and senior officials.
The Prime Minister also hosted a luncheon in honour of the President of Indonesia and his accompanying delegation. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Indonesia, marking a historic milestone in the ties between the two nations.