Rio de Janeiro — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto concluded his working visit to Brazil, where he attended the G20 Summit from Sunday, November 17, to Tuesday local time. This marked Prabowo’s debut at the G20 as President.
Speaking at the G20, Prabowo urged all G20 members to take bold action in building food resilience as a collective effort to reduce poverty and hunger.
In addition, Prabowo held bilateral meetings with several world leaders to discuss cooperation with Indonesia.
Here are the key points from Prabowo’s participation in the G20 Summit in Brazil:
Discussing Global Strategic Issues with the UN Secretary-General
Starting his working visit in Brazil, Prabowo met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday (11/17). They discussed various global strategic issues, including Palestine and climate change.
During the meeting, Prabowo expressed his full commitment to supporting UN efforts on global issues such as food security, poverty alleviation, human rights violations, and international law, particularly in Palestine.
On climate change, Prabowo highlighted Indonesia’s ambition to develop renewable, eco-friendly energy.
“We have developed technology to produce solar energy from plants, particularly palm oil. We are also working on technology to produce gasoline from palm oil,” said Prabowo.
Attending the Second MIKTA Leaders’ Gathering
Prabowo attended the second MIKTA Leaders’ Gathering, organized by Mexico as the MIKTA Chair for 2024, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.
MIKTA is a consultative forum comprising five countries: Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia. It was established in 2013 during the 68th UN General Assembly in New York.
The MIKTA meeting concluded with an agreement to foster more inclusive and responsive cooperation on global issues. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a safe, peaceful, just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous world.
“MIKTA leaders agreed to seek pragmatic and creative solutions to regional and global challenges, recognizing that the well-being of future generations depends on the willingness to take joint action,” the leaders stated.
Learning from Brazil’s Free Nutritious Meal Program
Prabowo expressed his desire to study Brazil’s successful free nutritious meal program. He announced his plan during the Indonesia-Brazil Business Forum on Sunday (11/17).
“I have instructed my team to organize meetings. We want to form a team to study Brazil’s school meal program,” said Prabowo.
Reaffirming Indonesia’s Commitment to Combat Hunger and Poverty
Speaking at the G20 session on “Fight Against Hunger and Poverty” on Monday (11/18), Prabowo praised Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for making poverty and hunger the focus of this year’s G20.
Prabowo emphasized that his administration prioritizes addressing hunger and poverty as a national priority, with substantial budget allocation for education.
The President also laid out concrete plans for achieving food and energy security in Indonesia, expressing optimism about resolving hunger within three years.
“We will be energy self-sufficient in four years, and in five years, we are confident we can contribute to the Global Alliance Against Poverty and Hunger,” Prabowo stated.
Advocating for Palestinian Peace Twice
Beyond food and energy issues, Prabowo linked global economic challenges to geopolitical dynamics during his G20 speech. He called for peaceful solutions to ongoing conflicts, including those in Gaza and Ukraine.
“We urge an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and Gaza. Only with peace and stability can we overcome poverty and hunger,” Prabowo said.
Prabowo also advocated for Palestinian peace during his meeting with the UN Secretary-General.
“We have stated our readiness to contribute peacekeeping forces if a ceasefire is reached and there is an international mandate. We are prepared to provide support,” said Prabowo.
On Palestine, the UN Secretary-General agreed with Indonesia’s stance on forming a Palestinian state and ensuring the right to self-determination.
Warm Interactions with Other World Leaders
A highlight of the G20 Summit was Prabowo’s friendly interactions with other world leaders during informal moments.
Prabowo was seen chatting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as they shared a sofa, showcasing the close friendship among Southeast Asian nations.
Prabowo also shared a warm hug with the Emir of Qatar, symbolizing the strong bond between Indonesia and Qatar.
In another instance, Prabowo exchanged laughs with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, reflecting a positive relationship between Indonesia and Australia.
A memorable moment was when Prabowo sat beside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who held Prabowo’s hand, signifying respect and camaraderie.
On his final day in Brazil, Prabowo met French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders shared a friendly and engaging discussion despite their busy schedules. (RR)
