Solo, Central Java. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto paid a visit to his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Sunday to personally report a diplomatic milestone: the conclusion of a decade-long free trade negotiation with the European Union.

The meeting took place one week after Prabowo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen jointly announced in Brussels that the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) had finally been reached -- ten years after talks first began under Jokowi’s administration.

“I just returned from an overseas tour and updated Mr. Jokowi on several breakthroughs, especially the EU deal. After 10 years of negotiations, we’ve finally secured the agreement,” Prabowo said at Jokowi’s residence in Solo, Central Java.

The CEPA will eliminate EU import tariffs on approximately 80 percent of Indonesian goods, a major step in boosting Indonesia’s export competitiveness in Europe.

During his two-week diplomatic tour, Prabowo also attended the BRICS Summit in Brazil and held bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He then traveled to Paris as guest of honor for France’s Bastille Day celebrations and held a phone call with US President Donald Trump. The United States agreed to reduce import tariffs on Indonesian products from 32 percent to 19 percent following the call. He also made a stop in Belarus before returning to Indonesia.

“Traveling the world can be exhausting, but personal diplomacy between leaders matters -- it builds trust,” Prabowo said. “We’re welcomed by all sides because we maintain neutrality, respect every nation, and avoid interfering in others’ domestic affairs.”

While in Solo, Prabowo also attended the national congress of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

Jokowi, speaking separately after the meeting, praised Prabowo’s diplomatic accomplishments.

“Those are dual successes that deserve recognition. The EU deal and the tariff reduction in the US are outstanding achievements,” Jokowi said.

He noted the long and difficult road toward finalizing the EU agreement, crediting Prabowo’s personal engagement with European leaders as the key breakthrough.

“This zero-percent tariff will give Indonesian products a significant competitive edge in the European market,” Jokowi added.

He also pointed to Prabowo’s growing public support: “I’ve seen the president’s approval rating is extremely high, which shows the public appreciates the government’s performance.”

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