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