President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to deepening political and economic cooperation with Indonesia following high-level talks with President Prabowo Subianto during his first official state visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Jakarta, Ramaphosa announced plans to boost bilateral trade and investment, strengthen multilateral cooperation and expand business-to-business partnerships between the two countries.
“During our discussions we affirmed the importance of expanding and deepening bilateral relations on both political and economic fronts through existing bilateral mechanisms,” Ramaphosa said.
“We agreed on the need to increase trade between our two countries as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.”
He said the two leaders spoke of the importance of building more resilient and diversified economies “for the benefit of the peoples of both countries as we face similar geopolitical headwinds.”
The visit was preceded by a South Africa-Indonesia Business Forum where private sector leaders explored new commercial opportunities.
Ramaphosa was accompanied by ministers responsible for international relations, defence, trade and agriculture, underscoring the strategic importance of the engagement.
The two leaders also discussed global issues, including cooperation within BRICS, the G20 and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Ramaphosa welcomed Indonesia’s recent accession to BRICS and extended an invitation to President Prabowo to attend the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
The leaders exchanged views on international peace and security, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
South Africa and Indonesia share diplomatic ties rooted in centuries-old historical connections, dating back to the 17th century when people of Indonesian descent were brought to the Cape by Dutch colonialists.
These early links laid the foundation for modern bilateral relations, which have grown steadily since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties in 1994.
Ramaphosa’s visit to Indonesia is part of a broader three-nation tour of Southeast Asia aimed at strengthening South Africa’s engagement with the region.
From Indonesia, the South African leader is due to travel to Vietnam on Thursday, followed by Malaysia from 25-28 October where he will be a guest of the chair at the 47th ASEAN Summit and the East Asian Summit.
JN/APA