Singapore – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto received a full ceremonial welcome at Singapore’s Parliament House on Monday (June 16) as part of his official state visit. The centerpiece of the day’s agenda was a formal meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Upon arrival, Prabowo was honored with a ceremonial guard of welcome. The proceedings began with the playing of the national anthems of both countries—“Indonesia Raya” and “Majulah Singapura”—underscoring the strong diplomatic ties between the neighboring nations.
Following the anthems, Prabowo and President Tharman reviewed the honor guard together, accompanied by Singapore’s official ceremonial detachment, in a moment marked by deep respect for diplomatic protocol.
One of the most memorable highlights came when President Tharman presented Prabowo with a rare purple Paraphalaenopsis orchid, specially named Dora Sigar Soemitro in tribute to Prabowo’s late mother.
“I was deeply moved to be given the honor of naming this unique orchid,” Prabowo said during a press conference. “I chose to name it after my mother, as a tribute to the woman who raised me—who raised a child that may have been quite a handful in his youth, but who ultimately became the President of the Republic of Indonesia.”
In a gesture of cultural diplomacy, Prabowo also presented Tharman with symbolic gifts: a blue-and-white ceramic vase and a ceremonial golden-yellow keris, reflecting the richness of Indonesia’s artistic and historical heritage.
Following the welcome ceremony, both leaders proceeded upstairs to the Parliament House’s formal reception hall for an official introduction session. President Tharman introduced members of his Cabinet to Prabowo, who in turn presented the Indonesian delegation accompanying him on the visit.
The state meeting continued with a closed-door courtesy call between the two leaders, where they discussed key bilateral issues ranging from economic and defense cooperation to education, food security, and emerging technologies.
The visit marks a significant milestone in strengthening Indonesia–Singapore relations and reflects a deep-rooted spirit of camaraderie between the two nations, grounded in decades of collaboration and mutual respect.
