Pakistan, Indonesia vow to balance trade, sign multiple accords

Pakistan and Indonesia on Tuesday signed multiple accords to strengthen bilateral cooperation across different sectors, including Halal trade, small and medium enterprises, higher education, anti-narcotics and health.

The accords were signed at a ceremony held at PM House as part of the ongoing two-day visit of the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, following his one-on-one meeting and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The two leaders witnessed the ceremony as ministers from both sides formally exchanged the pre-signed documents of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

An agreement was signed between Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of Indonesia and Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan on mutual recognition of higher education certificates and degrees. The documents were exchanged by Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and his Indonesian counterpart Brian Yuliarto.

Another agreement between the governments of Pakistan and Indonesia was signed for the grant program on “The Indonesian Aid Scholarships” and the documents were exchanged by Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Pakistan and Indonesia signed an MoU on cooperation in Halal trade and certification and Foreign Minister Sugiono and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan exchanged the documents.

Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain and the Indonesian foreign minister exchanged the MoU documents on facilitation and business development for Small and Medium Enterprises.

Two countries also signed an MoU on archives cooperation, with the documents exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono.

They also exchanged the documents of another MoU on cooperation in preventing and combating illicit drug trafficking.

Both sides signed an MoU on cooperation in the field of health, and the documents were exchanged by the Indonesian foreign minister and Minister of National Health Services, Regulation Syed Mustafa Kamal.

Delegation-level talks

Pakistan and Indonesia have decided to promote their relations in diverse fields including trade, culture, health, education and vocational training. The understanding to this effect came at a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Islamabad.

Later, addressing a joint press stakeout, the Prime Minister assured to work collectively with the Indonesian President to achieve the targets set for collaboration in different fields.

Referring to the bilateral trade of 4.5 billion dollars which is largely in favour of Indonesia, the Prime Minister said the two sides have discussed to take collective measures to balance the trade through exports of agriculture products and IT services from Pakistan.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan will also send its doctors, dentists, medical professionals and other related experts to Indonesia to fulfil its requirements in the field of medicine.

The Prime Minister noted that our relations span over seventy-five years with the visit of the Indonesian President coinciding with the anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. He expressed Pakistan's strong desire to celebrate this occasion in a befitting manner.

The Prime Minister recalled that Indonesia stood by Pakistan like a rock wall in our 1965 war with a neighbouring country. He said this will be remembered by the people of Pakistan for all times to come.

Shehbaz Sharif was confident that the visit of the Indonesian President would take the brotherly relations to a much higher level. He emphasized that they would work together to promote progress and peace, not only for their own countries but for the entire region.

Speaking on the occasion, President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto said both Pakistan and Indonesia agreed to expedite rebalancing of bilateral trade relations in practical terms.

He said we also look forward to further enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, agriculture, health and other areas of mutual interest.

He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the government of Pakistan for expressing willingness to send doctors, dentists, medical professionals and other related experts to Indonesia to fulfill its requirements in the field of health.

The Indonesian President said both the countries are coordinating in the field of foreign policy as well particularly having shared stance on Palestine. He supported the two-state solution of the Palestine issue saying that both Pakistan and Indonesia will always maintain common stance in this regard.

The President of Indonesia expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for extending warm reception and gracious hospitality during his visit. He said it is an honour for him that PAF fighter jets including JF-17 Thunder escorted his plane.

The Indonesian President also invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Indonesia at mutual convenient dates.

Guard of honour

President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday was accorded warm reception and a guard of honour as he arrived at the Prime Minister’s House to hold one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and hold the delegation-level talks.

Prime Minister Shehbaz received President Subianto at the entrance of PM House where the formal reception ceremony took place.

The national anthems of Indonesia and Pakistan were played while both leaders stood on the saluting dais.

A smartly attired contingent of the three services of the Pakistan armed forces presented the guard of honour, which the Indonesia president reviewed.

The two leaders introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for one-on-one meeting, followed by talks at the delegation level.

During the talks, the two sides will review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new avenues to further deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, defence, education, people-to-people exchanges, and regional connectivity.

Both sides will also sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to boost bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors.

Later, the Indonesian leader also planted a commemorative sapling in the lawn of the Prime Minister’s House.

The route of the Indonesian leader’s motorcade and main avenues of the federal capital were decorated with Pakistani and Indonesian flags as well as the large portraits of President Subianto.

During the visit, the Indonesian leader will also meet with President Zardari.

This is President Prabowo’s first visit to Pakistan since assuming office, as the last presidential visit from Indonesia was undertaken by the then-President Joko Widodo in 2018.

The visit carries added significance as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Indonesia.

Reporter Awais Kiyani