Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto thanked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the grand welcome as the Indonesian leader made an official visit to the close neighbor on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters aboard the HMAS Canberra warship, Prabowo talked of the welcoming ceremony, which saw soldiers playing Indonesia’s national anthem. As he was about to end his remarks, Prabowo talked about how Albanese was smart for ordering his military to greet him with bagpipes.

“Thank you very much for receiving me in such a grand manner. I think your intelligence is very good. You know that I like bagpipes. I'm received by bagpipes,” Prabowo said, a statement that made Albanese laugh.

Prabowo's whirlwind trip saw both countries announcing a new security treaty. The retired army general restated how Indonesia sought to be a “good neighbor”, while adding that the freshly unveiled pact reaffirmed both countries’ determination to beef up relations in the security field. The treaty has only reached the substantive conclusion stage thus far. Albanese is set to fly to Jakarta in January to formally sign the document.

“This treaty represents a major extension of our existing security and defense cooperation. It shows the relationship is as strong as it has ever been,” Albanese said.

When Albanese won his second consecutive term in May, the Australian politician picked Indonesia as his first foreign stop. Prabowo assumed power last October, but he only set foot in Australia about a year later.

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