AFP, JAKARTA
Indonesia’s new president headed to China for a state visit yesterday, starting a five-nation tour that could include a meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump as he seeks to balance relations with major powers on his first foreign trip.
Prabowo Subianto, a 73-year-old ex-general inaugurated last month, has pledged to position Jakarta more prominently on the world stage while sticking to its traditional non-aligned foreign policy.
Before departing, Prabowo said he would first visit Beijing, where he is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), then travel to Washington at the invitation of US President Joe Biden.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, center, speaks with Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, left, and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan, right, at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta yesterday.
Photo: AFP
The trip would include visits to Peru for the APEC summit and Brazil for the G20 summit of major economies, before ending in the UK, where he would meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he said.
“I believe this demonstrates the high regard in which Indonesia is held and the importance of inviting Indonesia to participate in bilateral and multilateral meetings,” broadcaster Kompas TV quoted Prabowo as saying.
“This is an honor for us, and we will maintain good relations with all parties,” he said.
It is unclear if his Washington visit would include a meeting with Trump, but Prabowo’s presidential spokesman Hasan Nasbi on Thursday said that “there is a possibility” talks with him were on the table.
Prabowo has promised to be bolder on foreign policy than his predecessor Joko Widodo, who focused more on domestic issues such as the economy.
