President Prabowo Welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at Bogor Palace
Bogor, The Gulf Observer: President Prabowo Subianto hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Bogor Palace, West Java, on Saturday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement following Prabowo’s inauguration as President of Indonesia on October 20, 2024.
Prime Minister Ishiba, accompanied by his wife, Yoshiko Ishiba, and an official delegation, arrived at the palace at 10 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB), following a visit to the Main National Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta.
The prime minister was warmly received at the palace gate by cavalry troops, in keeping with Indonesian traditions of state protocol. Both leaders, dressed in matching gray suits, participated in a welcoming ceremony featuring the national anthems of Indonesia and Japan, accompanied by ceremonial cannon blasts.
Prime Minister Ishiba signed the official guest book, with President Prabowo by his side, before the two leaders proceeded to a private tête-à-tête meeting in the president’s office.
Subsequently, they presided over a bilateral meeting joined by delegations from both nations. The Indonesian delegation included key figures from the Red and White Cabinet, namely Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan P. Roeslani.
The leaders discussed enhancing Indonesia-Japan cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, defense, and technology. A joint press conference is scheduled later in the day to announce the outcomes of their discussions.
Prime Minister Ishiba’s visit to Indonesia is part of his broader diplomatic tour in Southeast Asia, which included a prior stop in Malaysia. He and his delegation arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Friday evening.
Following the conclusion of his meeting with President Prabowo, Prime Minister Ishiba is set to return to Japan, departing from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday afternoon.
This visit underscores the strong and enduring ties between Indonesia and Japan, with both nations reaffirming their commitment to mutual prosperity and regional stability.
