New Delhi: India and Indonesia agreed on Saturday to cement ties as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for extensive talks in New Delhi. In a joint press conference after meeting Prabowo Subianto, who arrived in New Delhi on an official state visit Thursday night to be the chief guest at the Republic Day program, Modi described Indonesia as an important partner of India in the ASEAN bloc and the Indo-Pacific.
According to Kuwait News Agency, India and Indonesia have agreed to work jointly on defence manufacturing and supply chains, with both nations committed to a rules-based order in the region. Modi emphasized the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. Furthermore, both countries decided to strengthen cooperation in areas such as FinTech, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and digital public infrastructure.
An agreement in the maritime security sphere was signed, which aims to enhance cooperation in crime prevention, search and rescue, and capacity building. Modi highlighted the discussions on diversifying the trade basket and increasing market access to bolster the overall economic relationship. The talks also focused on collaboration in maritime security, cyber security, counter-terrorism, and de-radicalisation.
President Subianto expressed his commitment to accelerating the economic partnership with India, stating, “I have given directions to our officials that we need to accelerate the economic partnership with India.”