By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa kicked off his three-nation visit to the South East Asia region, which will include a working visit to Vietnam and Malaysia.
Ramaphosa commenced in Indonesia with a State Visit at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto for bilateral talks focused on expanding cooperation in trade, defense, and other strategic areas.
He is accompanied by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga; Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau; Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes.
Speaking at a joint news conference, Prabowo said the two leaders held “good discussions today concerning their bilateral relations.”
“We understand that we would like to take steps to have a perhaps preferential trade agreement or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in this period of economic, international economic uncertainties, “said the Indonesian president.
He added that both sides agreed to accelerate the implementation of the Defense Cooperation Agreement concluded in 2023.
Ramaphosa said the two sides reaffirmed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties in political and economic fields through existing cooperation frameworks.
“We agreed on the need to increase trade between our two countries, “he said, adding that he looks forward to hosting Prabowo next month during the G20 summit in South Africa.
Ramaphosa said they also discussed global issues, including the situation in Gaza, emphasizing the need to reinforce multilateralism and promote peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue.
“We exchanged views on efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and secure a just and lasting peace that realizes the aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination that should result in a two-state solution,” he said.
Ramaphosa will depart Jakarta on Thursday for a two-day visit to Vietnam, followed by a four-day trip to Malaysia from Oct. 25 to 28, where he will participate as Guest of the Chair at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
The history between the two countries dates to the 1600s with the arrival of the first people of Indonesian descent in South Africa. In 1694, celebrated religious leader of noble descent, Sheikh Yusuf Al Makassari, was exiled from Jakarta (known then as Batavia) to Cape Town, where he became one of the first to preach and spread the teachings of Islam in the Cape.
A shrine was erected in Cape Town in his honour, where his legacy is celebrated by the Islamic community.
In the 1990s, former President Nelson Mandela visited that country and developed a deep appreciation for the Indonesian Batik shirt – known in South Africa as the Madiba shirt.
Relations between the two countries were formalised in 1994, with several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements signed since that time.