PM Modi heads to Australia after wrapping up 3-day visit to Indonesia with 14 strategic pacts | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday flew to Australia after concluding a three-day visit to Indonesia during which he signed 14 agreements to enhance cooperation in areas such as critical minerals and maritime security, according to a PTI report.
In a post at X, PM Modi said he was leaving with immense satisfaction at the results achieved for the future of the India-Indonesia partnership, PTI reported. He expressed gratitude to the people of Indonesia and President Prabowo Subianto for his warmth and personal commitment to uplifting bilateral relations, adding that the visit opened new avenues for cooperation in defense and security, maritime cooperation, new technologies, artificial intelligence, digital innovation and capacity building.
In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote “Terima kasih, Indonesia!” as he confirmed that PM Modi had completed his state visit and embarked in Melbourne for the second leg of his three-nation tour. Noting that the Prime Minister was seen off at the airport by President Prabowo himself, which he described as a special gesture of friendship, Jaiswal said the visit had yielded significant results in key areas of cooperation, strengthened the India-Indonesia partnership and set an ambitious agenda for the future.
14 agreements signed, Sabang port development on the cards
During the visit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with President Prabowo, who personally dropped him off at the airport, according to PTI. Both representatives emphasized the importance of a deeper bilateral partnership for the free and peaceful Indo-Pacific and called for a “zero tolerance” approach to terrorism, demanding action against globally banned terrorists, the report said.
According to PTI, the two sides signed 14 agreements covering critical supply chains of minerals and steel, maritime security, medicine, education, space, research and innovation, telecommunications and food security. In a major move, India and Indonesia have also agreed to jointly develop the strategically located Sabang Port, which overlooks the Straits of Malacca and lies about 160 kilometers from India’s Great Nicobar Port project, the report said.
Prime Minister Modi landed in Jakarta on Monday to a red carpet welcome, the first leg of a three-nation tour that will also take him to Australia and New Zealand to boost cooperation in trade, energy, security and rare earth minerals under the 2018 India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, PTI reported.
Before leaving, Prime Minister Modi and President Prabowo visited the Prambanan temple complex in Yogyakarta, to mark the launch of a joint conservation project for the UNESCO World Heritage site, with Prime Minister Modi thanking Indonesia for preserving the “great heritage” of the site, according to the report. The visit came a day after the two countries exchanged a statement of intent to begin conservation and restoration of the temple with Indian help.
From Indonesia, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Melbourne from July 8-10 at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with the visit expected to boost defense, trade, education and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries.
