PM Modi calls for deeper India–Indonesia partnership in key areas
Jakarta, July 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Indonesian Parliament on Tuesday, said that immense opportunities exist for India and Indonesia in many areas and that in the rapidly changing global order, reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) cannot be postponed any further. He said that the two countries are natural partners and India is ready to provide all possible support to Indonesia in various areas, including satellite launch technology.
Prime Minister Modi said that today the global order is changing rapidly and developing countries like India and Indonesia expect equal participation and a greater role. He said that India firmly believes that the process of reform of the UN Security Council should not be delayed any further so that global institutions can reflect current realities.
He said that India and Indonesia are natural partners for the future and there is immense potential for trade, technology, innovation, and strategic cooperation between the two countries. India is ready to cooperate with Indonesia in the field of satellite launch technology and wants to take space cooperation to new heights.
The Prime Minister said that India is a strong supporter of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and believes in freedom of maritime routes. He said that India’s ‘Act East’ policy is completely ASEAN-centric and that ASEAN’s central role is the foundation of India’s Indo-Pacific policy.
On the issue of terrorism, he said that India and Indonesia have always stood with each other. He expressed gratitude for Indonesia’s solidarity with India after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam last year. He said that both countries are further strengthening cooperation against terrorism through the Joint Working Group.
The Prime Minister said that India is the world’s largest democracy and the ‘Mother of Democracies,’ while Indonesia is the world’s third largest democracy. Both countries have made diversity the foundation of their democratic unity, and these shared values are the greatest strength of their relations.
He said that India and Indonesia share not only the sea but also a shared history, culture, and civilizational heritage. The Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Nalanda, Borobudur, Prambanan Temple, Garuda, and the cultural traditions of Bali have connected the two countries for centuries. He added that India also strongly supported Indonesia in its struggle for independence at the United Nations.
Modi said that Indonesia’s economy has made remarkable progress over the last two decades, while India is today the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and that over 250 million Indians have been lifted out of poverty in the last decade. He said that bilateral trade between the two countries has reached nearly $25 billion, and more than 100 Indian companies are operating in Indonesia, but the potential for cooperation remains immense.
Referring to BRICS, the Prime Minister said that Indonesia became a full member last year, and India is chairing it this year. He said that both countries can work together to make BRICS more pragmatic, balanced, and more sensitive to the needs of the Global South.
Presenting the “Ganga Mahakam Vision” on this occasion, the Prime Minister proposed four key pillars for the India-Indonesia partnership. These include the launch of the India-Indonesia Civilization Dialogue to connect civilizational ties with a new generation, creating new opportunities through shared development, strengthening security and strategic trust, and reorienting maritime cooperation to transform shared maritime geography into shared prosperity.
At the beginning of his address, Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for the affection and welcome he received from the people of Indonesia. He said that receiving Indonesia’s highest civilian honor is an honor for 1.4 billion Indians and a symbol of the democratic traditions, shared heritage, and deepening ties between the two countries.
