Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in New Delhi on Saturday, as the two nations signed several agreements aimed at bolstering collaboration in the fields of health, defence, digital technology, and maritime affairs.
President Subianto, who arrived in India on Thursday, is on his first official visit since taking office as president last year. He will serve as the chief guest at India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations on Sunday, which mark the anniversary of the country’s Constitution, adopted on 26th January 1950, almost three years after India gained independence from British colonial rule.
Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the leaders had agreed to strengthen bilateral defence production, manufacturing, and supply chains, while also enhancing cooperation in maritime and cyber security.
“The agreements signed today in the areas of maritime safety and security will further deepen our collaboration in crime prevention, search and rescue operations, and capacity building,” he stated.
President Subianto expressed his appreciation for India’s support in Indonesia’s recent admission as a full member of the BRICS group of emerging economies. He also noted that he and Prime Minister Modi had engaged in an “intensive and candid discussion,” with the aim of accelerating economic cooperation and reducing bureaucratic barriers.
As reported by India’s diplomatic mission in Jakarta, Indonesia is India’s second-largest trading partner in the ASEAN region, with bilateral trade reaching USD 29.4 billion in the 2023-24 period.
Earlier on Saturday, President Subianto, accompanied by Prime Minister Modi, met with India’s President Draupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official presidential residence.
