Turkey Wants To Develop Inter-parliamentary Relations With Indonesia

Officers raised the Red and White flag to fly at Esenboga International Airport, Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday (9/4/2025)./ANTARA

JAKARTA - President of the Turkish National Assembly, Numan Kurtulmus, emphasized that his party wants to develop relations between the Turkish parliament and Indonesia at every level.

"We are determined to further develop cooperation and solidarity between our national parliaments," Kurtulmus said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 10.

He also said the parliaments of the two countries would hold a meeting to discuss support for Palestine on April 18, where DPR Speaker Puan Maharani will attend.

Regarding the Palestinian issue itself, Kurtulmus said that Indonesia and Turkey work together and support each other's initiatives on the international stage, especially in the United Nations (UN), Organizations for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the G20.

Kurtulmus also appreciated President Prabowo Subianto for prioritizing the development of Indonesia-Turkey relations since Prabowo took office in October 2024.

"In fact, the first meeting of Turkey-Indonesia's high-level strategic cooperation council was held in Jakarta in February," he said, who also mentioned that Prabowo will participate in the Antalya diplomatic forum (ADF) tomorrow.

In addition, Kurtulmus expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian government for its support for the Yunus Emre Institute (Turkey Cultural Center) which was formed by the Turkish Government in 2007 which was spread throughout the world, including in Indonesia.

He said Indonesia and Turkey were working closely together in the field of education, adding that there were around 5,300 Indonesians who continued their education in Turkey and since 2022, Turkish began to be taught in Indonesia through the Yunus Emre Institute.

"Indonesia is one of the rising stars in Asia today," he said.

He also highlighted the center of gravity of international systems combining multipolar and multicentral systems starting to shift towards Asia.

The President of the Turkish National Assembly explained that relations between Indonesia and Turkey had existed for hundreds of years since the Ottoman Empire in the 16th to 20th centuries, which later re-established after Indonesia's independence in 1945.

The binding of history and shared values between our country is a strong foundation for advancing our friendly relationship. Our strength, strength, friendship, and brotherhood are always warm despite the distance between us," said Kurtulmus.

He stated that relations between the two countries are growing and improving in every field, especially in trade, defense, industry, agriculture, health and tourism.

He also believes that Prabowo's visit, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Turkey, is a very valuable opportunity to advance relations between the two countries.

President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Turkey was a follow-up to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's invitation during a visit to Indonesia in February.