India and Indonesia on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono held the eighth India-Indonesia Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi. The high-level dialogue, held after a gap of four years, focused on expanding cooperation across political, economic, defence and cultural sectors.

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two countries and recalled the celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2025. He said the state visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who also attended India's 76th Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest, had imparted fresh momentum to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

The External Affairs Minister said discussions would cover the “full spectrum” of bilateral cooperation, including defence and security, maritime affairs, trade and investment, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food security, tourism, education and cultural exchanges.

Jaishankar also referred to his meeting with President Prabowo during the latter’s visit to India and said the guidance provided by the Indonesian leader had contributed to strengthening multifaceted ties between New Delhi and Jakarta. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Prabowo had held productive talks, laying the foundation for deeper cooperation.

Focus on Strategic Cooperation

Sugiono expressed confidence that the Joint Commission Meeting would deliver meaningful outcomes. Thanking India for its hospitality, he described the dialogue as an important opportunity to review progress achieved since the previous meeting held in 2022.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister said both countries needed to address pending issues of common interest and implement decisions taken during President Prabowo’s visit to India. He stressed that the partnership should be translated into concrete and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Sugiono also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jakarta and said he hoped the current discussions would further deepen bilateral relations.

Expanding Regional Engagement

The Indonesian Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi for a series of bilateral engagements with Indian leaders. Following their talks, Jaishankar said on social media that both sides reviewed the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed cooperation with ASEAN.

Diplomatic observers view the meeting as an important step in enhancing India’s engagement with Southeast Asia at a time when New Delhi is seeking to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy and a key ASEAN member, occupies a central place in India’s Act East Policy.

Officials said the Joint Commission Meeting would provide a roadmap for future cooperation and help convert political goodwill into tangible initiatives across multiple sectors. The discussions are expected to reinforce maritime cooperation, trade ties and regional connectivity between the two countries.