Ganjar Pranowo (L), Prabowo Subianto (C), and Anies Baswedan strike a pose for the cameras after the first presidential debate 2024 concluded in Jakarta on December 12, 2023. (Photo: ANTARA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Candidates in Indonesia’spresidential election held the second debate on January 7 where they discusseddefence, geopolitics and diplomatic issues.
The candidates are Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, formergovernor of Central Java province Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta Governor AniesBaswedan.
Prabowo, who is consideredthe most potential presidential candidate, said that if elected, he will striveto maintain positive relationships with allꩲ global powers in line withIndonesia’s "non-aligned" foreign policy and pursue a "goodneighbourliness policy". He also emphasised the importance of bolstering militarypower to defend the country's independence.
Meanwhile, Ganjar touched upon regional issuesand said that it is essential to increase the navy's patrol activities.
For hispart, Anies raised the issue of non-traditional threats such as a risein hacking incidents, thereby pledging to strengthening cyberdefence structure.He is also committed to making Indonesia a decisive leader in the globalsetting through its soft power such as the arts.
Prabowo is ahead of hisrivals in opinion polls since choosing Gibran Rakabuming Raka, theeldest son of President Joko Widodo, as his vice presidential candidate.
Pranowo is insecond♋ place. Recent surveys suggest tꦕhat Baswedan, in third place, might havea chance to beat Pranowo and be in the second-round runoff vote.
Indonesia will hold a generalelection on February 14, 2024. Nearly 205 million voters out of a total of morethan 270 million people are eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to PresidentJoko Widodo. If none of the threecandidates obtains a majority of votes in the first round, a second round willbe held in June between the two candidates who receive the largest number ofvotes./.
With a strong foundation, Indonesia will generate optimism and demonstrate an ability to recover from many current global challenges, said participants at a December 22 seminar on the country’s 2024 economic prospects.
Indonesia received over 10.4 million foreign tourists in the first 11 months of 2023, marking a 110.8% increase compared to the same period in 2022, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on January 2.
Indonesia's Finance Minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has disclosed that the country allocated 455.8 trillion IDR (approximately 29.4 billion USD) from the state budget for infrastructure investment last year.
Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on January 4 said that the value of the country's digital commerce or e-commerce transactions in 2023 is estimated to have reached 533 trillion IDR (34.35 billion USD), a 10.69% increase compared to the previous year.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
Ganjar Pranowo (L), Prabowo Subianto (C), and Anies Baswedan strike a pose for the cameras after the first presidential debate 2024 concluded in Jakarta on December 12, 2023. (Photo: ANTARA) 
