Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals Program initiated by President Prabowo Subianto during a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace. Albanese lauded this program as a concrete example of Indonesia’s commitment to improving the well-being of its citizens as part of its national development efforts. He emphasized the significance of initiatives like free nutritious meals in the broader context of Indonesia’s transformation agenda, recognizing the hard work and aspirations of the Indonesian people in enhancing their quality of life.
In addition, Albanese acknowledged Indonesia’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and its crucial role in promoting peace, prosperity, and stability. He highlighted Indonesia’s rapid progress as strategically important not only for the region but also for Australia’s bilateral relations with the country. The leaders discussed opportunities to enhance strategic cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, particularly in defense, trade, investment, and Indonesia’s aspirations to join international organizations like the OECD and the CPTPP.
Albanese underscored the partnership’s foundation on shared values, mutual respect, and a vision for inclusive regional development. He pointed to the deep historical ties between Australia and Indonesia, stemming from Indonesia’s struggle for independence. Emphasizing collaboration between Australians and Indonesians, Albanese called for joint efforts to strengthen stability, prosperity, and security in the region they both value.
