Islamabad (TDI): In a special ceremony at the President House on Tuesday night, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Pakistan’s highest civil award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
The investiture was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other senior officials.
President Subianto’s two-day official visit from December 8 to 9, at the invitation of PM Shehbaz Sharif, included delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister and meetings with President Zardari, the CDF, and other senior civil and military leaders.
The visit carried special significance as Pakistan and Indonesia celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. According to a joint statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries highlighted the historic foundation of their ties and expressed a strong commitment to expanding cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
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During the visit, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, agreeing to deepen engagement across political, diplomatic, economic, trade, defense, cultural, educational, scientific, technological, and health sectors. They also emphasized enhancing high-level exchanges, inter-parliamentary cooperation, and political dialogue.
They reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trade and economic collaboration. Bilateral trade, which has more than doubled since 2014 to over $4 billion, still holds untapped potential. Both countries agreed to convene the Joint Negotiations Committee (JNC) to upgrade the existing IP-PTA to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by 2027, removing non-tariff barriers and allowing deeper cooperation.
Both sides highlighted opportunities in traditional commodities such as agriculture, industrial goods, palm oil, surgical instruments, and pharmaceuticals, while also exploring collaboration in IT, fintech, and cyber security. Investments were also discussed, with a focus on sectors including agriculture, mining, tourism, infrastructure, digital connectivity, and energy, through coordination between Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and Indonesia’s Danantara Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Both countries emphasized expanding defense ties through high-level military interactions, institutionalized defense industrial cooperation, training programs, and exchanges between military institutions. Opportunities for collaboration in maritime and aviation sectors were also discussed.
The two sides reaffirmed cooperation against transnational threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, and illicit trafficking of narcotics, in line with international law and UN conventions.
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Pakistan praised Indonesia’s progress in health sector development, and both sides agreed to expand collaboration in medical services, digital health, emergency preparedness, vaccine production, and maternal and child health. They also pledged to work together on disaster management, climate resilience, and sustainable tourism, leveraging shared history and culture.
Pakistan briefed the Indonesian delegation on developments in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Both countries expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and reaffirmed support for a lasting, just peace based on the two-state solution, welcoming the Gaza Peace Plan and ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed to strengthen bilateral cooperation further. President Subianto expressed gratitude to PM Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan for their warm hospitality.
