Two countries agree to review the PTA; Subianto analyzes defense links with the CDF Munir
President Asif Ali Zardari confers Nishan-e-Pakistan on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif looks on. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed on Tuesday to enhance bilateral trade, expand cooperation in health, agriculture, information technology, science and education, and deepen coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Indonesian President Prabowo Subiato at the Prime Minister’s Chamber, the prime minister said Pakistan and Indonesia were committed to boosting bilateral trade, which currently stands at $4.5 billion, noting that more than 90% of the total trade consists of imports of palm oil from Indonesia to Pakistan.
He said both sides discussed corrective measures to help balance trade between the two countries, including increasing Pakistan’s exports in agriculture, IT-led initiatives and other sectors.
The prime minister also offered to send doctors, dentists, medical professors and other health experts to Indonesia to help meet the needs of the country’s medical universities and hospitals.
“I want to assure you that whatever is possible for us in this regard, we will do without delay,” he said.
Sharif highlighted that bilateral relations between the two countries date back more than 75 years and noted that their ties predate Pakistan’s independence. He recalled that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had supported the Indonesian independence movement and said that Indonesia strongly supported Pakistan during the 1965 war.
Turning to regional and global issues, the prime minister praised Indonesia’s stance on Gaza and said it was time for the international community to act to stop the current bloodshed.
He expressed confidence that the bond between the two countries will continue to grow and that President Prabowo’s visit will take relations to “new heights.”
The Indonesian president thanked the government and people of Pakistan for the warm reception, noting that his plane was escorted by JF-17 Thunder aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.
The Indonesian president said the bilateral meeting was productive and resulted in agreements in various areas of cooperation, including trade, education, agriculture, science and technology. He described Islam as a moderate religion that promotes inclusion and tolerance, adding that Pakistan and Indonesia shared historical and brotherly relations.
He welcomed Pakistan’s offer to help in the health sector, saying Indonesia had great needs for doctors, dentists and medical experts, calling Pakistan’s support strategic and critical. He said he had instructed Indonesian ministers to accelerate practical cooperation with Pakistan in multiple fields.
He also said both countries were closely coordinating their foreign policies, particularly in Palestine and Gaza, reaffirming Indonesia’s support for a two-state solution. He added that the foreign ministers of both sides remained in close contact.
Earlier, the two sides led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
These areas included political and diplomatic engagement, economic and trade relations, defense and security, health, education, science and technology, agriculture and environmental collaboration.
Both sides also agreed to elevate their historic bilateral relations to a dynamic and forward-looking partnership.
During the bilateral talks, the prime minister was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, cabinet ministers and senior officials of the media wing of the prime minister’s office, they said in a press release.
Expressing satisfaction with the upward trajectory of bilateral trade, both sides agreed to review the Indonesia-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (IP-PTA) to further expand the volume of bilateral trade, which currently stands at around $4 billion, while undertaking efforts to address the trade imbalance.
In particular, they emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the halal industry, trade in agricultural products, information technology, technical and vocational education, etc.
The two sides agreed to promote collaboration in investments and joint ventures in various sectors, through greater cooperation between the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Indonesian Sovereign Investment Fund (Danantara).
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 United Nations Security Council resolutions and the protection of human rights.
Prime Minister Sharif appreciated President Prabowo’s active diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including his role in seeking ceasefire agreements and providing humanitarian assistance.
Both leaders appreciated the close and active cooperation between the two countries in multilateral forums, including the UN, OIC and D-8.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed an exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and agreements between both sides in various fields.
The Prime Minister also hosted a luncheon in honor of the President and his accompanying delegation.
“The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Indonesia, a historic milestone in brotherly ties between the two nations,” it added.
Meeting with the CDF
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir called on President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto in Islamabad on Tuesday.
During the meeting, issues of mutual interest, regional security and bilateral defense cooperation were discussed, said a press release issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Both sides reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen the existing ties between the armed forces of the two brotherly countries.
The visiting dignitary appreciated the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and acknowledged Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability.
The COAS and CDF reiterated that Pakistan values its long-standing relations with Indonesia and is committed to expanding defense collaboration in the areas of training, counter-terrorism and capability development, he further said.
Memorandum of Understanding
The Ministry of Federal Education and Vocational Training (FE&PT) of Pakistan and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia signed an agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in the education sector.
According to the FE&PT ministry on Tuesday, an agreement was signed between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology on the mutual recognition of higher education certificates and degrees.
In addition, two MOUs were also signed between both governments.
The documents were signed by Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister of FE&PT of Pakistan, and Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia.
Nishan-e-Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo at a special investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif; Senate President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani; the president of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq; members of the federal cabinet; Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori; Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Syed Mehdi Shah; Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore; Chief of Defense Forces, Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu; Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf NI (M); parliamentarians and members of the diplomatic corps.
