Indonesia and France have a long-standing diplomatic relationship dating back to 1947. Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Jakarta as a symbol of the strong friendship and mutual respect between the two countries. The grand state welcome for President Macron at Merdeka Palace was a sight to behold, with around 3,000 students from elementary to high school levels lining the grounds dressed in neat attire and enthusiastically waving the flags of Indonesia and France.
The arrival of President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at Merdeka Palace was marked with a warm reception by President Prabowo Subianto in an official welcome ceremony. The two leaders then proceeded to the ceremonial grounds with the national anthems of both countries playing and a 21-gun salute in the background as a formal tribute. Amid Jakarta’s clear blue sky, Prabowo and Macron inspected the honor guard, while the students at the palace courtyard continued to show their excitement by waving miniature flags.
The ceremony was attended by ministers from the Red and White Cabinet, as well as Prabowo’s son, Ragowo Hediprasetyo. Macron’s visit to Indonesia included stops at the Military Academy in Magelang and the UNESCO World Heritage site, Borobudur Temple, highlighting the shared cultural and educational values of the two nations. Following the welcome ceremony, the two heads of state engaged in a closed-door bilateral meeting to discuss strategic partnerships, further strengthening the ties between Indonesia and France.
