Pernyataan Pers Bersama Presiden RI dan Presiden Republik Afrika Selatan dalam Kunjungan Kenegaraan ke Indonesia

 

Presiden Republik Indonesia (Prabowo Subianto)

Your Excellency President of the Republic of South Africa, Honorable Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa;
Distinguished members of South African delegations;
Ministers and officials;
Saudara-saudara sekalian;
Rekan-rekan media dan kawan-kawan sekalian.

First and foremost, once again, I would like to thank President Ramaphosa and his delegations, for giving us the great honor of visiting Indonesia. 

Today, we consider South Africa to be a very important leader in the world and we share a lot of common history, long struggle against colonialism, fighting for freedom. We admire the strength, the idealism and the courage of the struggle of the South Africans, fighting against injustice and apartheid. Therefore, this visit I think is an important milestone in our relationship. We had a good discussion today concerning our bilateral relations. 

In the economic field, our trade has increased significantly in the past five years, but of course we would like to continue and increase the trade in a more balanced situation and we understand that. We would like to take steps to have perhaps a preferential trade agreement or a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in this period of international economic uncertainties. I think it’s very important that we have developed new relations and stronger relations. South Africa is a very important leader in Africa, I think will be important for Indonesia in the coming years. 

In the field of defense, we agreed to accelerate the implementation of the defense cooperation agreement that we concluded in 2023. We will move ahead on that.

Also in the field of agriculture, in the field of energy, and people-to-people relationship, especially in the field of science and education. So I look forward to increasing these relations. We will send Indonesia, as asked by the President of South Africa, the possibility if we can send a technical team, technical delegation to discuss concrete programs in key areas where we can go forward very fast.

We also hope that we can have closer cooperation in the field of people-to-people arrangements. For instance, mutual visa waiver arrangements. 

We support South Africa’s presidency of the G20. I have received an invitation directly from President Ramaphosa to attend. I think it’s a great honor for me to attend. I plan to attend and I think this also will symbolize the strength of South-South cooperation. We are confident that South Africa’s leadership will advance into a more inclusive and equitable global economic order. 

Once again, I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation for your visit, for the friendship, solidarity and cooperation that continue to flourish between Indonesia and South Africa. We are committed to advancing our strategic partnership with South Africa.

Thank you very much. 

 

Presiden Afrika Selatan (Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa)

Thank you for this opportunity. 

Your Excellency President Subianto, Ambassadors, Ministers and distinguished guests and members of the media. 

It is a great honor to undertake this state visit to this beautiful country of Indonesia. I am accompanied by a delegation which is composed of ministers who are responsible for international relations, defense, agriculture and trade and investment.

We have also brought a strong business delegation with a view to building a very powerful commercial partnership between our two countries. The relationship between South Africa and Indonesia is deeply rooted in our histories, and history that spans almost 350 years, beginning in the 17th century when the very first Indonesians were brought to South Africa by the Dutch colonialists at the time. These early connections laid the foundation for a long-standing relationship between our two countries.

Today’s visit also deepens that relationship and particularly because there are so many other linkages that bring us together. I took time to congratulate Indonesia on the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the historic Bandung-Asia-Africa Conference of 1955, where the South African people were represented by two great leaders of our country, Moses Kortani and Malvi Kachali. I attended the 50th commemoration of the Bandung Conference in 2015, which was a great moment which brought together many leaders from the non-aligned countries around the world.

I am particularly pleased that today we have Indonesia as the latest or newest member of the BRICS family. During our discussion, we affirmed the importance of expanding and broadening bilateral relations on both political and economic fronts from existing bilateral mechanisms. We agreed on the need to increase trade between our two countries as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.

We spoke of the importance of building a more resilient and diversified economies between our two countries for the benefit of the people of both our countries as we face similar geopolitical headwinds. This state visit was preceded by a business forum which provided a platform for South African companies to engage with their Indonesian counterparts. One of the key goals of the business forum was to find meaningful ways for our two countries to develop pathways that will lead to the boosting of economic growth through business-to-business partnerships.

We discussed global issues as partners in organisations such as BRICS, the G20, and the non-aligned movement, amongst others. We affirmed the need to strengthen the multilateral system so as to enhance peaceful resolution of conflict through dialogue. We exchanged views on efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and to secure a just and lasting peace that realises the aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination that should result in a two-state solution, a state of Israel living side by side with a state of Palestine.

We are looking forward to hosting President Subianto at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg next month under the themes of sustainability, equality, and solidarity. Through our G20 Presidency, we have focused on measures that we should all take to create an environment of inclusive growth, reduced inequality, and sustainable development, especially in the Global South and also on the African continent. We are grateful for the constructive discussions that we have held today over lunch, may I add, which really made discussions so much easier.

And, this was also accompanied by wonderful music, by musicians who can sing South African songs. So all that created the best atmosphere during which we could have our official talks. We are grateful for the constructive discussions that have taken place.

We would be honoured to host President Subianto to South Africa on a state visit at a mutually agreed date. He has already indicated that he is willing, prepared, and able to come to South Africa on a state visit. It is clear from our engagements today that we also share a common future of progress and development and prosperity for all.

But more than anything else, we would like to thank the people of Indonesia for welcoming us with such open hearts and warm hands. So, we really thank you for having us in your presence in your beautiful country. 

So, thank you very much, President.