New Delhi/Jakarta, 06 July (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jakarta on Monday for an official visit to Indonesia, where he was personally received at the airport by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, underscoring the close and growing ties between the two countries.

Expressing his appreciation for the warm reception, Prime Minister Modi said he was touched by President Prabowo's gesture of welcoming him at the airport. He noted that India and Indonesia elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, a framework that has significantly strengthened cooperation and delivered tangible benefits to the people of both nations.

In a message shared after his arrival, the Prime Minister said he and President Prabowo would hold extensive discussions aimed at giving fresh momentum to the partnership across a wide range of sectors. The talks are expected to cover trade and investment, defence and maritime security, digital technology, connectivity, healthcare, energy, education, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

As part of the visit, Prime Minister Modi and President Prabowo are also scheduled to visit the historic Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta. The visit is expected to highlight the centuries-old civilisational and cultural links between India and Indonesia. Prambanan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva—is one of Southeast Asia's most significant Hindu temple complexes and reflects the shared cultural heritage between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi said the visit to the temple complex would further strengthen cultural ties and reinforce the deep historical bonds that connect the people of India and Indonesia.

During his stay, the Prime Minister is also expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Indonesia. The Indian community has played an important role in strengthening people-to-people relations and contributes significantly to Indonesia's economic, educational and cultural landscape.

India and Indonesia share a multifaceted partnership rooted in centuries of maritime trade, cultural exchanges and historical connections. Since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, bilateral cooperation has expanded across defence, maritime collaboration, counter-terrorism, the blue economy, digital innovation and economic engagement. As two major democracies and leading Indo-Pacific nations, India and Indonesia continue to work closely to promote regional stability, secure maritime routes and support a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar