ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia can learn from India’s democratic experience as he welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit to Jakarta on Tuesday, emphasizing that the partnership between the two countries is built not only on strategic interests but also on shared democratic values and centuries of civilizational ties.
Speaking during the Indian Community Reception at the Jakarta International Convention Center, Prabowo praised India for maintaining democratic governance and political stability while leading the world’s largest democracy—home to extraordinary ethnic, linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity.
“The important thing is that the Indonesian people should learn from India’s experience,” Prabowo said.
He acknowledged that democracy is never without challenges but described it as the most effective system for promoting justice, inclusive development, and national unity. According to Prabowo, India’s experience in preserving stability while managing diversity offers valuable lessons for Indonesia as it continues to strengthen its democratic institutions.
The remarks came after Prabowo and Modi held bilateral talks at the Merdeka Palace, where they witnessed the signing of seven Memoranda of Understanding covering telecommunications and digital services, medical product regulation, the peaceful use of outer space, disaster management, critical minerals and steel supply chains, election management, and counterterrorism.
The two governments also concluded a series of implementing agreements in maritime cooperation, healthcare workforce development, official statistics, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In addition, they signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate on the conservation and restoration of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta.
The restoration project will be undertaken by India’s Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), reflecting the enduring cultural and historical connections that have linked Indonesia and India for centuries.
During a state luncheon at the Presidential Palace, Prabowo said the relationship between the two countries has been shaped by history as much as by shared aspirations for the future.
“Our countries have been connected for centuries. History brought us together, and today we share common values and a common vision for the future,” he said.
Prabowo also recalled the symbolic bond between the two nations. Indonesia’s founding president, Soekarno, was the guest of honor at India’s first Republic Day celebration in 1950. More than seven decades later, Prabowo received the same honor during India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2025, a milestone he described as reflecting the enduring friendship between Jakarta and New Delhi.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prabowo and the Indonesian people for their warm hospitality, describing the close cultural affinity between Indonesia and India as a strong foundation for expanding cooperation across government, business, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
The two leaders are scheduled to visit the Prambanan Temple Complex on Wednesday to mark the beginning of the heritage conservation initiative, adding a cultural dimension to a state visit that also expanded cooperation in strategic sectors central to the Indo-Pacific’s future.
While the visit delivered agreements in areas ranging from critical minerals and digital technology to healthcare, maritime security, disaster resilience, and space cooperation, Prabowo’s remarks underscored a broader message: that the Indonesia–India partnership is strengthened not only by economic and strategic interests, but also by democratic institutions, shared history, and enduring cultural ties. (AT Network)
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