Prabowo Receives Warm Welcome from Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn in Sydney
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was accorded a warm reception by Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who hosted a state event at Admiralty House in Sydney on Wednesday, reaffirming the deep-rooted and enduring partnership between Indonesia and Australia.
Following the welcoming ceremony, President Prabowo and Governor-General Mostyn held cordial discussions, during which Mostyn described Prabowo’s official visit as a testament to the robust and stable bilateral relations nurtured over decades of mutual respect and cooperation.
Governor-General Mostyn recalled President Prabowo’s previous visits to Australia before assuming office, expressing her delight in welcoming him for the first time as Indonesia’s head of state. “This is my first time coming here as president,” Prabowo remarked in response.
The exchange took a personal turn when President Prabowo shared his long-standing friendships with Australian officials and members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “I have many friends from the Australian Defence Force; most of them have retired now—perhaps everyone I know has retired,” he noted warmly.
Governor-General Mostyn, in turn, revealed her own military family background, highlighting that her father had served in the armed forces for decades—longer than former Governor-General David Hurley—and that her family had frequently relocated during his service.
The conversation later focused on strengthening people-to-people connections and expanding cooperation in key areas such as defense, education, and investment. Mostyn emphasized that defense and education have long been pillars of the Indonesia–Australia partnership, citing the establishment of Australian university campuses in Indonesia by Monash, Deakin, and Western Sydney University as examples of this growing collaboration.
President Prabowo was accompanied by several senior officials, including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, and Minister for Investment and Downstreaming Rosan Roeslani.
The visit underscores both nations’ shared commitment to advancing a comprehensive partnership anchored in mutual trust, regional stability, and shared prosperity.
