Jakarta, May 15, 2025 – The Europe Today: President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto formally received Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a state visit at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday morning, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations between the two Indo-Pacific partners.
Upon arrival at the palace grounds, Prime Minister Albanese and his delegation were greeted with full ceremonial honors, including a guard of honor and a warm welcome from hundreds of elementary school pupils waving the national flags of Indonesia and Australia.
President Prabowo personally welcomed Prime Minister Albanese at the palace entrance before leading him to the official welcoming ceremony. A ceremonial band played the national anthems — “Advance Australia Fair” and “Indonesia Raya” — as both leaders stood side by side in a display of mutual respect and diplomatic friendship.
The two leaders then jointly inspected the honor guard and introduced members of their respective delegations before proceeding with a full agenda of meetings inside the historic Merdeka Palace complex.
Several high-ranking Indonesian ministers accompanied President Prabowo during the state reception, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, and Minister for State-owned Enterprises Erick Thohir.
Following the formal introductions, President Prabowo escorted Prime Minister Albanese to the Credential Room, where the Australian premier signed the presidential guest book and participated in a photo session with the Indonesian head of state.
The visit continued with a tête-à-tête meeting between the two leaders, followed by a bilateral meeting involving both national delegations. Discussions are expected to center on strengthening bilateral relations, with a particular focus on economic cooperation, including issues of food and energy security, as well as enhancing bilateral trade.
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the leaders will also exchange views on key policy priorities for both governments and address pressing regional and global developments.
The series of engagements will conclude with an official state banquet hosted by President Prabowo at the Merdeka Palace in honor of Prime Minister Albanese.
Prime Minister Albanese’s visit, which runs from May 14 to 16, marks his first official international trip since securing a second term in office earlier this month. It underscores the strategic importance of Indonesia-Australia ties in fostering regional stability and economic resilience.
Following his visit to Indonesia, Prime Minister Albanese is scheduled to travel to the Vatican to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on May 18, and later to Singapore on May 20, before returning to Australia, according to a statement from the Australian Prime Minister’s Office.
