JAKARTA (Bernama): Indonesia and India on Tuesday agreed to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, including cross-border QR payment linkage, energy security and nuclear technology.
President Prabowo Subianto said the agreements were reached during bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Merdeka Palace during Modi’s state visit to Indonesia, reciprocating Prabowo's visit to India earlier this year as both countries strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In a joint press conference with Modi broadcast on YouTube, Prabowo said both leaders welcomed progress in discussions on a QR-based cross-border payment linkage between Indonesia and India.
"The system is expected to improve transaction efficiency while strengthening the resilience of the financial sector," he said.
Prabowo said Indonesia and India also encouraged the development of cooperation in energy security, including solar power projects, while promoting technology exchanges and capacity building in nuclear technology.
On the economic front, Prabowo said Indonesia and India were committed to significantly increasing bilateral trade by accelerating discussions on the Indonesia-India Preferential Trade Agreement, as well as reviewing and upgrading the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement.
Prabowo also expressed support for the development of ports in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the expansion of Sabang Port in Indonesia's Aceh province as a strategic link between Sabang Island and India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Indonesia and India also agreed to enhance security cooperation through the third India-Indonesia Security Dialogue and to deepen collaboration in capacity building in emerging technologies, combating transnational crime and developing digital infrastructure, he said.
Prabowo said Indonesia and India remained committed to advancing global peace and stability while ensuring the voices of the Global South are heard, as well as promoting a free, open, transparent and rules-based Indo-Pacific while upholding ASEAN centrality.
"Both countries also continue to support dialogue, diplomacy and international law for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Middle East,” he added. -- BERNAMA
