Megawati meets Ramos Horta to strengthen Indonesia-Timor Leste brotherhood
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri met with the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos Horta, at her residence on Jalan Teuku Umar, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday, to strengthen the brotherhood between Indonesia and Timor Leste.
Ramos Horta’s arrival was warmly welcomed by senior PDI Perjuangan officials, including General Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto, accompanied by DPP Chairman Ahmad Basarah, Yasonna Laoly, Ronny Talapessy, and the Head of the Party’s Central Research and Policy Analysis Agency, Andi Widjajanto.
“Come, please sit,” Megawati greeted warmly, as conveyed in a written statement received by ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday.
The meeting between the two leaders lasted about 2.5 hours. They engaged in closed discussions rich with historical and strategic nuances.
Following the intensive talks, the meeting concluded with a meaningful exchange of gifts.
Megawati presented a piece of traditional Indonesian batik cloth as a symbol of the nobility of Nusantara culture, along with a copy of her book titled “Spirit of Humanity”.
The book serves as an affirmation of Megawati’s consistency in championing humanitarian values on the global political stage, in line with Ramos Horta’s role as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
In return, Ramos Horta gave a handmade bag typical of Timor Leste and renowned Timor Leste Arabica coffee.
This exchange is more than mere tradition; it symbolises the closeness of the two countries, which mutually respect each other’s identities and local economic potential.
Today’s meeting is a continuation of the dialogue that took place in Abu Dhabi in early February 2026. At that time, they met during the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026.
The relationship between Megawati and Ramos Horta is known to transcend formal diplomatic boundaries.
Megawati often shares her emotional connections with Timor Leste figures, including Kupa Lopez, Timor Leste’s Ambassador to Cambodia, whom she regards as an adopted son.
On the other hand, Ramos Horta has officially extended an invitation to Megawati to visit Dili to receive the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor Leste, the country’s highest award for those who have made significant contributions to international peace.
Similar awards have also been given to Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, and the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam.
Before leaving the Teuku Umar residence, Ramos Horta and Megawati took the opportunity to pose for a group photo with all meeting participants.