BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra officially welcomed President Prabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia to Thailand at Government House, marking the first official visit by an Indonesian head of state in two decades. The visit comes at a significant moment, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Indonesia. Both nations seized the opportunity to jointly announce the elevation of their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting a shared commitment to deepen cooperation in all areas.
President Prabowo was greeted with a formal welcome ceremony, including a review of the honor guard on the lawn in front of the Thai Khu Fah Building. The leaders posed for photographs on the building’s main staircase before proceeding to the Ivory Room, where President Prabowo signed the official guestbook and viewed ceremonial gifts.
The two leaders held extensive discussions under the framework of the inaugural Leaders’ Consultation, a mechanism initiated by Thailand to promote regular high-level dialogue. The talks focused on strengthening collaboration in areas such as security, trade and investment, food security, tourism, education, people-to-people exchanges, and regional engagement.
In a significant highlight of the visit, both leaders jointly declared the formal upgrade of their countries’ relationship to a Strategic Partnership. This announcement marked a historic milestone in the 75-year journey of Thai-Indonesian relations, paving the way for enhanced coordination in regional and global arenas.
The visit also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and Indonesia’s Ministry of Health to promote closer cooperation in the field of public health. The day concluded with a joint press conference, where the leaders reaffirmed their mutual vision for a strong, resilient, and forward-looking partnership. (TNA)
