Joint Statement by Egypt and Indonesia

1- His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, received His Excellency Mr. Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, who was on an official visit to Cairo on December 18, 2024. The two presidents held fruitful official talks aimed at strengthening the historical cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
2- During the meeting, the two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in many fields, including trade, food security, energy, defense, education, culture, and regional peace.
3- The two presidents expressed appreciation for the potential of the two countries’ economies and affirmed their confidence in the continued growth of trade and investment between the two countries. They agreed to proceed with enhancing trade and investment activities in the fields of palm oil, fertilizers, renewable energy, agricultural commodities, digital economy, infrastructure and transportation, given that Egypt is a gateway for Indonesian products from the Euro-Mediterranean and African markets, and given that Indonesia is a center for Egyptian products to reach the markets of the ASEAN region.
4-The two sides valued the successful holding of the Egyptian-Indonesian Trade Committee in July 2024 as a major step towards strengthening economic relations between the two countries.
5-The two presidents stressed the importance of ongoing cooperation in the field of defense and security between the two countries. The two sides agreed on the need to take the necessary measures to strengthen and expand these areas.
6- The two presidents highlighted the importance of continuing cooperation in the field of education between the two countries. President Prabowo Subianto expressed gratitude for the continued support provided by Egypt in hosting about 15,000 Indonesian students, especially those studying at Al-Azhar University.
7- The two presidents stressed the benefits of cultural exchange between their countries in enhancing friendship and strengthening relations between the two peoples. President Prabowo Subianto proposed adopting Pencak silat, a traditional Indonesian sport, as an official sport in Egypt and establishing an Egyptian federation for this sport.
8- Indonesia expressed its interest in strengthening cooperation with Egypt and Al-Azhar University to develop religious education and promote regional harmony.
9- The two presidents welcomed the resumption of direct flights between the two countries in November 2023 and discussed how to take further measures to consolidate communication between the two peoples.
10- The two countries looked forward to the convening of the joint committee chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries in Cairo in 2025 and the completion of the signing of a number of MoUs and agreements that are being negotiated in order to establish an effective framework to advance ways of cooperation between the two countries.
11- The Indonesian president expressed appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal role in the Middle East as a leader for peace and stability in the region. Indonesia expressed its deep appreciation for Egypt’s tireless efforts to reach peace in conflicts such as the Israeli aggression on Gaza. President Prabowo Subianto confirmed his country's full support for Egypt's leading role and expressed Indonesia's desire to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in facing regional and global challenges, especially in supporting the independence of Palestine and maintaining stability in the region, including Lebanon and Syria.
12- With regard to the situation in Palestine, the two presidents reviewed ways to support efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, and to ensure safe and continuous access without obstacles to humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza. In this regard, Indonesia expressed its appreciation for Egypt’s leading role in facilitating the access of humanitarian aid to Gaza and affirmed its commitment to working with Egypt in this regard.
13- The two countries stress the need for Israel to withdraw from the territories it occupied on June 4, 1967, to stop all unilateral measures, to abide by the rules of international law, and to implement the Security Council resolutions, mainly resolutions 242, 252, 267, 446, and 2334, especially since Israel's unilateral practices to create a new reality on the ground, in addition to being a violation of Israel's international obligations also undermine the two-state solution, which peace-loving countries still see the only solution to end the conflict. The two leaders agreed on the inevitability of establishing an independent, contiguous and viable Palestinian State along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
14- The two presidents condemned the displacement of Palestinians from their land, and rejected Israeli practices aimed at achieving this goal, whether displacement from Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem. They also condemned Israeli settlement activities, the violence practiced by settlers, the demolition of Palestinian homes, military incursions into Palestinian cities, and practices that jeopardize the legal and historical status of the holy places in the city of Jerusalem.
15- The two presidents welcomed the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which came into effect on November 27, 2024, and called on Israel to adhere to the agreement. In this regard, they stressed the importance of fully implementing Security Council Resolution No. 1701 (2006), and enabling the deployment of the Lebanese army and imposing its control over all parts of the country, including south Lebanon. They also stressed the importance of supporting Lebanese institutions.
16- With regard to the situation in Syria, the two presidents agreed that the only sustainable solution to the situation in Syria is through launching a peaceful, comprehensive and democratic political process in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 2254 that gives priority to fulfilling the aspirations and interests of the Syrian people and guaranteeing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. The two presidents also condemned attempts to undermine Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially the Israeli aggression on the Golan Heights, which is a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and multiple United Nations resolutions. The two presidents called on Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights.
17- The two presidents reaffirmed the importance of maintaining water and food security for both countries by strengthening cross-border cooperation in accordance with international law to ensure the sustainability of water supplies necessary for life, agriculture, food production and ecosystem services.
18- The official visit of President Prabowo Subianto to the Arab Republic of Egypt emphasized the close strategic cooperation between the two countries based on mutual respect and common aspirations for peace and prosperity. The two presidents expressed their optimism about the future of relations between the two countries and their commitment to working to reach outcomes that achieve the benefit of the two peoples.
19- At the end of the meeting, President Prabowo Subianto invited His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to visit Indonesia at a time to be arranged between the two sides, as this visit will represent an important milestone in the partnership between Egypt and Indonesia, and an opportunity to achieve more peace, prosperity and progress for both countries.