Message from HE Rachmat Budiman
Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Thailand
and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP
on the Occasion of
the 80th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia
and the 75th Anniversary of Indonesia-Thailand Diplomatic Relations
17 August 2025
On the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence, I offer my sincerest wishes for the health, prosperity and longevity of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, the Royal Thai Family, the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand. May your nation continue to thrive, and our bond of friendship continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.
This year’s theme for Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations, "Bersatu, Berdaulat, Rakyat Sejahtera, Indonesia Maju" ("United, Sovereign, Prosperous People, and an Advanced Indonesia"), captures our unwavering commitment to addressing global challenges and fostering regional stability. It reflects shared values of unity, sovereignty, prosperity and progress towards peace, sustainable development and mutual understanding within Southeast Asia and globally.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Thailand—a partnership with shared historical ties, dating back to the Sriwijaya, Majapahit and Ayutthaya Kingdom. This shared heritage is further evident in landmarks like the Masjid Jawa and Masjid Indonesia and the presence of ancient Indonesian communities in Bangkok such as Makkasan and Kampung Jawa.
The visits of King Chulalongkorn to Java in 1871, 1896 and 1901 and His Majesty’s gift of a bronze elephant statue stands proudly in front of the National Museum in Central Jakarta, marking the early chapter of official interactions between our nations. The relationship deepened with successive state visits, including those of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit in 1960 and President Sukarno’s 1961 visit to Thailand. President Prabowo Subianto’s visits to Thailand in 2025, the first by an Indonesian President in two decades, marked a new chapter in our partnership, with the signing of a Joint Statement to elevate bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership.
People-to-people exchanges play a vital role in our cooperation, underscored by cultural initiatives, like the Logo Design Competition for the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations, Joint Opinion Pieces in Thai and Indonesia’s prominent media, Public Lectures and Workshops on Indonesian Art and Culture, the Indonesia-Thailand Painting Exhibition 2025 and Indonesian Cultural Night, continue to strengthen the bond between our nations.
Indonesia and Thailand have made remarkable strides in the education sector through student exchanges and academic partnerships, bridging cultural gaps and fostering future collaboration in areas like sustainable development, technology and regional integration.
Our economic ties continue to flourish, with bilateral trade surpassing USD 18 billion in 2024 and our continued focus on renewable energy, smart agriculture, logistics and digital solutions, halal food, creative economy and fintech.
Tourism has seen significant growth, with 119,000 Thai visitors to Indonesia and 876,610 Indonesian tourist arrivals in Thailand in 2024, facilitated by new direct flights connecting major cities, like Bangkok, Surabaya, Phuket, Medan and Denpasar.
Our defense and security cooperation continues to evolve through various mechanisms, like the Indonesia-Thailand Security Dialogue, Thainesia, ADMM-Plus and joint military exercises. We are committed to addressing regional challenges such as maritime security, cyber resilience and transnational crime.
Looking ahead, the future of our partnership is bright. We are well-positioned to deepen cooperation in emerging areas, like climate change, digital innovation and regional integration, ensuring our continued prosperity, peace, and sustainability.
In closing, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Indonesian community, diaspora and friends of Indonesia in Thailand. Your support strengthens the bond between our nations, ensuring a united, advanced and prosperous future for both peoples. Long live the enduring friendship between Indonesia and Thailand!
