Indonesia keen to befriend all countries: President Prabowo

Jakarta October 20 (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday emphasized Indonesia's commitment to be a friend to all countries and a good neighbor by upholding the principle of anti-colonialism.

"We want to be a friend to all countries by continuing to uphold the principle of anti-colonialism because we have experienced colonization; (we support) anti-oppression as we have been oppressed," he said.

Delivering his inaugural speech after being sworn in as the 8th President of Indonesia at the Nusantara Building in the Senayan legislative complex here on Sunday, he reiterated that Indonesia will continue with its free and active foreign policy.

In facing global challenges, he said, the Indonesian government has chosen a free and active path. It will remain non-aligned and not be a party to any military pact, he added.

"We do not participate in any military pact," Prabowo said.

"We want to be a good neighbor," he added.

He further said that Indonesia wants to embrace the ancient philosophy of "a thousand friends are too few, one enemy is too many."

President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka took the oath of office for the 2024–2029 term during a plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the Nusantara Building.

Dressed in suits and wearing traditional Betawi cloth, they took the oath on the holy book of the Quran.

"By Allah, I swear to fulfill the obligations of the President of the Republic of Indonesia as well as possible and as fairly as possible, uphold the Constitution and implement all laws and regulations as honestly as possible, and serve the nation and the country," Prabowo said, reading the oath.