Megawati Soekarnoputri Receives Visit from Australian Ambassador
President of the Fifth Republic of Indonesia and General Chair of PDI Perjuangan, Megawati Soekarnoputri, warmly welcomed the arrival of the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rod Brazier, at her residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday, 11 May 2026.
In the friendly meeting, the two discussed various strategic issues, from strengthening bilateral relations to the global geopolitical situation.
Megawati and Ambassador Rod agreed that Darwin, located in northern Australia near Papua and East Nusa Tenggara, could serve as a gateway for economic cooperation between the two countries.
Regarding geopolitical issues, Megawati highlighted the harmful impacts of war that disadvantage all parties. She emphasised the need for the UN to take a more active and concrete role.
In response, Ambassador Rod acknowledged that the current global situation is indeed concerning. Australia itself is feeling serious impacts, one of which is the drastic surge in fuel prices due to international instability.
The conversation atmosphere grew warmer when moving to the topic of historical diplomacy. Ambassador Rod expressed his admiration for the figure of Bung Karno as a revolutionary leader and his crucial role in initiating the Asia-Africa Conference.
In response, Megawati shared her experiences during her tenure as the Fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia, always making special time for representatives of friendly countries.
“I was taught by Bung Karno that if there is an embassy representative who wants to meet, they must be received and welcomed promptly because the ambassadors represent a sovereign state. That is why, when I was President, and an ambassador wanted to meet, I always prioritised it,” said Megawati.
In addition to political diplomacy, the meeting also touched on environmental conservation aspects. Ambassador Rod recounted his visit to Bogor Botanic Gardens and praised Megawati’s pioneering role in preserving and developing the gardens. As Chair of the Indonesian Botanic Gardens Foundation, Megawati affirmed her commitment to environmental sustainability.
“I always encourage commitment to the environment. Now there are more than 45 Botanic Gardens. Every PDIP regional head is asked to establish a Botanic Garden,” said Megawati.
Concluding the meeting, Megawati expressed her fondness for inviting ambassadors to directly witness the biodiversity in various regions. “Most ambassadors want to see the Bali Botanic Garden,” said Megawati with a smile.
In the meeting, Megawati was accompanied by the Secretary General of the PDI Perjuangan Central Board, Hasto Kristiyanto, the Head of Research and Strategic Policy Analysis Agency of PDI Perjuangan, Andi Widjayanto, and the Director of Foreign Relations of PDI Perjuangan, Hanjaya Setiawan. Meanwhile, Ambassador Rod was accompanied by the Deputy Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Gita Kamath.