Two countries agree to review PTA; Subianto discusses defence ties with 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 on Tuesday agreed to enhance bilateral trade, expand cooperation in health, agriculture, Information Technology, science, and education, and deepen coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine.
In a joint press stakeout along with President of Indonesia Prabowo Subiato at the PM House, the prime minister said Pakistan and Indonesia were committed to boosting bilateral trade, which currently stood at $4.5 billion, noting that over 90% of the total trade comprised of palm oil import 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 Indonesian medical universities and hospitals.
“I want to assure you that whatever is possible for us in this regard, we will do it without any delay,” he said.
Sharif highlighted that bilateral relations between the two countries span over 75 years, noting that their ties predate Pakistan’s independence. He recalled that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had supported Indonesia’s independence movement and said Indonesia stood firmly with Pakistan during the 1965 war.
Referring 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 ongoing bloodshed.
He expressed confidence that the bond between the two countries would continue to grow and that President Prabowo’s visit would take relations to “new heights.”
The Indonesia president thanked the government and people of Pakistan for the warm reception, noting that his aircraft was escorted by Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder jets.
The Indonesian president said the bilateral meeting was productive and resulted in agreements across several areas of cooperation, including trade, education, agriculture, science and technology. He described Islam as a moderate religion that promotes inclusivity and tolerance, adding that Pakistan and Indonesia shared historic and brotherly relations.
He welcomed Pakistan’s offer to assist in the health sector, saying Indonesia had vast needs for doctors, dentists, and medical experts, and termed Pakistan’s support strategic and critical. He said he had instructed Indonesian ministers to expedite practical cooperation with Pakistan in multiple fields.
He also said both countries were closely coordinating their foreign policies, particularly on 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 gamut of bilateral relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening 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 forward-looking, dynamic partnership.
During the bilateral talks, the prime minister was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, cabinet ministers and senior officials, PM Office Media Wing, 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.
They particularly emphasized on the importance of expanding cooperation in the halal industry, trade in agricultural commodities, information technology, technical and vocational education, etc.
The two sides agreed to promote collaboration in investments and joint ventures across diverse sectors, through enhanced cooperation between the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Indonesia (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 UNSC 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 pursuing ceasefire arrangements and delivering humanitarian assistance.
Both leaders appreciated the close and active cooperation between the two countries at multilateral fora, 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 diverse fields.
The prime minister also hosted a luncheon in honour 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 the brotherly ties between the two nations,” it was added.
Meeting with CDF
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir called on President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto at Islamabad on Tuesday.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security, and bilateral defence cooperation were discussed, said a news release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen 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 & CDF reiterated that Pakistan values its longstanding relations with Indonesia and is committed to expanding defence collaboration in training, counter-terrorism, and capacity-building domains, it further said.
MoU
Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (FE&PT), Pakistan and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia signed agreement and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to enhance collaboration in Education sector.
According to ministry FE&PT on Tuesday, an agreement has been signed between Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Indonesia, on Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Certificates and Degrees.
Additionally, two MOUs were also signed between both governments.
The documents were signed by Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Federal Minister FE&PT, Pakistan and Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Indonesia.
Nishan-e-Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest civil award of Pakistan, on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo in a special investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif; Chairman Senate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani; Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq; members of the federal cabinet; Governor Sindh, Kamran Tessori; Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Mehdi Shah; Prime Minister of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore; Chief of Defence 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.
