NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday was conferred with Indonesia’s highest honour during his two-day visit to the archipelago nation.Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto conferred the nation’s highest honour ‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’ medal of honour upon PM Modi.The Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna, commonly referred to as the Bintang Adipurna, is Indonesia’s highest state honour. It is the highest class of the Star of the Republic of Indonesia (Bintang Republik Indonesia), the country’s premier order of merit, and is conferred by the President of Indonesia on individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to the nation. Established in 1959, the honour may be awarded to both Indonesian citizens and foreign dignitaries for exceptional contributions.For foreign heads of state and government, the Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna is awarded in recognition of their outstanding role in strengthening Indonesia’s friendship, strategic cooperation and bilateral relations with other countries. The order comprises five classes, with Adipurna being the highest, underscoring its status as Indonesia’s most prestigious state decoration.Earlier, PM was accorded a grand ceremonial welcome in Jakarta on Tuesday, where horse-mounted guards, a ceremonial Guard of Honour, and enthusiastic crowds marked the commencement of his official visit to Indonesia.Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto personally received the Prime Minister, with the two leaders sharing a warm hug before embarking on their high-level bilateral talks scheduled for later in the day.Deploying everything from horse-mounted guards to vibrant traditional cultural performances, Indonesia rolled out a spectacular reception for PM Modi, who is currently on the initial leg of his three-nation diplomatic visit.The Prime Minister landed in Indonesia on Monday, where his aircraft was escorted by Indonesian military fighter jets upon entering the country’s airspace. He was formally received on the tarmac by President Prabowo and greeted with a traditional cultural dance performance.This July 6-8 visit, undertaken at the personal invitation of President Prabowo, marks PM Modi’s fourth visit to the Southeast Asian archipelago. Crucially, this is the first bilateral visit between the two nations since they formally elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018.The two leaders are slated to hold comprehensive bilateral talks to review the full spectrum of India-Indonesia ties and explore avenues to deepen cooperation across defence, trade, maritime security, critical minerals, healthcare, and emerging technologies.
