President Prabowo receives Fiji's PM's visit at Merdeka Palace

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto received the official visit of Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday, marking the first official visit from a leader of the country.

The visit of Prime Minister Rabuka and his delegation to Indonesia marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Fiji.

The prime minister and his entourage arrived at the Merdeka Palace at around 10:30 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB), welcomed by the guard of honor, cavalry troops, and elementary students waving the national flags of Indonesia and Fiji.

President Prabowo personally greeted Prime Minister Rabuka upon arrival, with the latter dressed in a black suit and traditional sulu skirt.

The leaders then proceeded to participate in a welcoming ceremony featuring the national anthems of Indonesia and Fiji, accompanied by 19 cannon blasts.

The leaders then conducted a troop inspection and introduced the delegates from their respective countries.

Several ministers of the Red and White Cabinet accompanied President Prabowo on that occasion, including Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, and Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto.

President Prabowo then invited the prime minister to the credential room to take a picture and sign the state guest book. The two then held a tête-à-tête meeting at the president's office.

After the meeting, President Prabowo and Prime Minister Rabuka are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting that will be attended by delegations of both countries.

As the closing of the series of the Prime Minister's official visit, President Prabowo will host him and his delegation to a luncheon.

Earlier, the deputy for protocol, press, and media of the Indonesian presidential secretariat, Yusuf Permana, stated that the two leaders would discuss strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Fiji.