President Prabowo Subianto officially began his state visit to France on Thursday with a ceremonial reception at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
According to a livestream broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat, Prabowo was welcomed upon arrival by French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu at the palace courtyard before the official program commenced.
Prabowo appeared wearing a gray double-breasted suit paired with a blue tie and a traditional black peci cap, a signature element often seen in his official appearances abroad.
Several members of the Indonesian delegation had arrived earlier at the Elysee Palace ahead of the president’s arrival. Among those attending were Foreign Minister Sugiono, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani, Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Indonesian Ambassador to France M Oemar.
The welcoming ceremony featured the national anthems of both countries. Indonesia Raya was played first, followed by France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise.
Prabowo’s visit to France comes as part of his broader diplomatic agenda aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Jakarta and Paris, particularly in the fields of defense, investment, education, and technology cooperation.
Foreign Minister Sugiono previously stated that the trip fulfilled an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron that had initially been scheduled earlier this year but was postponed due to scheduling conflicts.
“This invitation from President Macron had actually been delayed. The visit was initially expected to take place in April, but the timing did not match at that moment,” Sugiono told reporters on Wednesday.
Prabowo arrived at Orly Airport on Tuesday morning local time before beginning a series of official engagements during his stay in France.
