Prabowo holds first bilateral meetings with state guests

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto held his first bilateral meetings with some state guests at the Merdeka Palace here on Sunday soon after taking oath as the 8th President of Indonesia.

Immediately after sending off his predecessor Joko Widodo at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Prabowo received Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

Widodo on Sunday flew to his hometown in Solo, Central Java, where he has decided to spend his retirement.

"This afternoon a meeting was held between President Prabowo and several leaders of friendly countries who participated in today's presidential inauguration at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)," head of the Presidential Communication Office, Hasan Nasbi, said here.

Nasbi informed that around nine representatives from friendly countries came to the palace to meet Prabowo.

As seen in a live broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, President Prabowo received the Australian Deputy Prime Minister at Merdeka Palace's Credentials Room.

Deputy PM Marles signed the palace's guest book as part of the formalities of the bilateral meeting.

During the meeting, Prabowo was accompanied by the head of state protocol, Andy Rachmianto.

After Marles, President Prabowo met with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

He was also scheduled to receive other state guests from New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Laos, and China.

Prabowo, 73, and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 37, took their oaths of office for the 2024–2029 term during a plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta on Sunday, succeeding Widodo and Ma'ruf Amin.

Heads of state/representatives from 33 friendly countries attended Prabowo's inauguration in Jakarta. (INE)