Jakarta: Independence Day is the occasion when Indonesia commemorates the struggles of its founding fathers to break the shackles of colonialism and laying the foundation of the modern republic that we see today, according to Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Pradeep Kumar Rawat.
According to the Ambassador, the founding fathers of Indonesia and India worked closely with each other, shared ideas and strategies and drew inspiration from each other.
India hosted the Conference on Asian Relations in New Delhi in 1947, bringing together leaders of 29 countries to express solidarity with the freedom struggle in the other parts of Asia and foster cooperation amongst Asian people, which was an early assertion of Asian identity. This shared history set the stage for our leadership in global affairs.
Similarly, Indonesia hosted the Bandung Conference of 1955, bringing together the newly independent countries of Asia and Africa. Together, Indonesia and India helped write the closing chapters of colonialism and the opening sequence of the Non Aligned Movement, which forged the bonds of South-South cooperation and Afro- Asian solidarity.
"The India-Indonesia diplomatic ties may be just little more than 70 years old. But these seven decades of engagements have reconnected the people of India and Indonesia, and re-ignited a friendship forged through common civilizational links, a shared struggle against colonialism and an endeavour towards progress and prosperity," the Ambassador said in a statement on Sunday.
India's ties with Indonesia stretch back more than two millennia. Forged in peace and friendship, religion and culture, art and commerce, language and literature, these enduring linkages are now present in every facet of the magnificent diversity of India and Indonesia, providing a unique envelope of comfort and familiarity between the two nations.
The legends of Ramayana and Mahabharata are visible across the entire landscape of Indonesia. Sufi traders and Islamic missionaries from Gujarat carried Islam to Indonesia in the 13th Century.
"There are many similarities and convergences between our two countries in terms of macroeconomic and demographic factors. We are among the largest economies and among the two fastest growing major economies in this century. We have the strength and the potential of burgeoning young and dynamic population," he stated.
India and Indonesia, being large developing countries, also have many common challenges in food security, health, technology, infrastructure and other sectors. Especially, at a time when the onset of the covid-19 pandemic has posed new challenges in realizing developmental goals, it is important for both countries to come up with innovative solutions aimed at minimizing disruptions to trade and logistics.
"India stands prepared to cooperate with Indonesia to tide over these difficult times," he stated.
As forward looking nations driven by the aspirations and hopes of their young populations, Indonesia and India are very much in step with each other. Being at the cusp of the Asian Century, the region needs civilizational powers such as India and Indonesia to not merely grow and emerge as major economies but also to collaborate closely to shape the century and present ideas peace and prosperity for the region and the world.
"The millenia long linkages between our two countries and people has matured to an extent where there is now a great upswing in our bilateral ties. People-to-people ties have continued to flourish building on our civilizational connect," he stated.
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