Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has publicly commended Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his leadership qualities and commitment to enhancing regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The praise came during a joint press conference following a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace. Albanese praised Prabowo’s vision in strengthening partnerships and addressing regional challenges, emphasizing Indonesia’s significant role in promoting peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific. He highlighted Indonesia as a key partner to Australia in various aspects, including economics, politics, and security cooperation.
Albanese specifically highlighted Prabowo’s national development efforts, such as the Free Nutritious Meals Program for schoolchildren, as evidence of the government’s dedication to social welfare and human capital development. The Australian Prime Minister drew parallels between this initiative and the region’s growth potential through free trade and stability, commending Indonesia’s leadership under Prabowo.
This visit marked Albanese’s first international trip since his re-election as Prime Minister and showcased the strong Australia-Indonesia relationship. In a light-hearted moment, Albanese joked about Prabowo’s love for horseback riding, demonstrating a warm relationship between the two leaders. The visit reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to expanding their strategic partnership, particularly in areas such as education, defense, sustainable economy, agriculture, and people-to-people connections.