Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly commended Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during a joint press conference at the Merdeka Palace. Albanese praised Prabowo’s leadership qualities and dedication to enhancing regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. He acknowledged Indonesia’s significant role in promoting peace, prosperity, and stability in the region and emphasized the country’s importance as Australia’s key partner in various fields such as economics, politics, and security cooperation.
Albanese specifically praised Prabowo’s national development efforts, including the Free Nutritious Meals Program for schoolchildren, as evidence of the government’s commitment to social welfare and human capital development. He 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 after his re-election as Prime Minister, highlighting the strong Australia-Indonesia relationship. In a lighthearted moment, Albanese humorously mentioned Prabowo’s fondness for horseback riding, showcasing a warm interaction 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 fostering people-to-people connections.
