Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Datuk Hermono, stated that Indonesian President Prabowo's upcoming first state visit to Malaysia next week holds great significance for the bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as for the stability and security of ASEAN.
He said that this visit plays an important role in strengthening diplomatic relations in various fields between the two ASEAN regional powers.
In an interview with Bernama, he said: "It is hoped that this visit will accelerate the resolution of some pending issues, including border matters."
Regarding ASEAN, Hermono said that the main challenge facing ASEAN now is how to maintain ASEAN's centrality in order to respond to political dynamics and preserve regional stability and peace.
He pointed out that in this context, the increasingly robust Malaysia-Indonesia relationship is crucial for maintaining ASEAN's centrality.
On Thursday, during his state visit to India, Prabowo stated on social media platform X that he was visiting Malaysia at the invitation of the country's head of state, Sultan Ibrahim, and emphasized that "closely collaborating with friendly nations has always been our priority in jointly building a stronger, more prosperous region."
Hermono remarked that Prabowo, who assumed his role as Indonesia's 8th president last October, will be leading several cabinet ministers to Malaysia for the state visit. These include Indonesian Foreign Minister Budiono, Trade Minister Budi Santoso, Minister of Manpower Protection and Emigration Abdul Qadir, Minister of Investment and Downstream Affairs Rosan Roeslani, Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti, and Cabinet Secretary Major Teddy.
Prabowo conducted a one-day working visit to Malaysia on January 9, expressing Indonesia's willingness to assist Malaysia in fulfilling its Duty Presidency of ASEAN this year during his talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar.
The diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Indonesia were officially established in 1957, although public relations between the two countries started much earlier.
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement noting that in 2023, Indonesia was Malaysia's 7th largest global trading partner, and the 3rd largest trading partner among ASEAN member countries, with trade worth 111.21 billion ringgit (24.39 billion US dollars).
In the first ten months of 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached 95.5 billion ringgit (20.75 billion US dollars), compared to 94.37 billion ringgit (20.69 billion US dollars) in the same period of 2023.
On another front, Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Chairman Datuk Dr. Mohd Faiz noted that with the close relationship between Prabowo and Anwar driving it, Malaysia and Indonesia may be on the brink of a new golden age.
He stated in an interview: "Both leaders recognize the strategic significance of the partnership, which is grounded in the priority of ASEAN centrality, particularly amidst greater strategic environmental uncertainty, especially during the leadership of US President Trump, making predictions challenging."
He forecasts that the US-China competition will intensify in unpredictable ways in the coming years, making more coordinated actions between Malaysia and Indonesia increasingly urgent.
On Thursday (January 23), before flying to New Delhi, Prabowo made a brief statement at an airport in East Jakarta, emphasizing the importance of Malaysia as Indonesia's close neighbor, with shared cultural, ethnic, and historical ties.
He said that Malaysia and Indonesia have many similarities with Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Brunei, as founding members of ASEAN, their cooperation has increasingly intensified, making them the main drivers of ASEAN's rapid development.
He also highlighted Malaysia and Indonesia's key roles in strengthening ASEAN cooperation and other strategic partnerships.